Brook cleaning starts at Swinton

On Tuesday, specialist waterways cleansing officers employed by the Council started to clear the stream which runs through 'The Brecks' - the area of land which lies between Swinton's Fitzwilliam Estate, Piccadilly and Meadow View at Kilnhurst.

'The Brecks' has been the focus of a special multi-agency group set up by the authority in February last year to work with local residents.

It is now trying to tackle the repeated problems of fly tipping and excessive littering that has blighted 'The Brecks' - the popular open space.

Since last autumn, fly tipped rubbish and other larger debris has been removed, and the authority's Streetpride Landscape Delivery Team has also cut back the undergrowth and many of the shrubs on the site.

Now specialists, from the Countryside Team, funded by the Wentworth North Area Assembly, has started clearing the waterway.

This will allow the authority's Ground Maintenace Team will be able to cut the grass close to the stream when the cutting season begins. 

Local Swinton Ward Councillor, Ken Wyatt, said the stream clearing was just the latest phase in what has been a long on-going local project that has involved local residents living around the open space.

He added: "We have involved local people right from the start by listening to what they wanted for this area.

"We hope that the on-going work will act as a deterrent to the small group of anti-social residents who cause the litter problems in this spot, which is a very popular walking area for not only people from the immediate area, but from the wider Swinton and Kilnhurst communities."