Litter-picking fun to ‘tidy Thame’

THAME is looking a lot smarter this week, after around 200 local people took part in Thame Tidy Day 2015, on Sunday (April 19), clearing paper, metal, drinks cans, crisp packets, carpet underlay, graffiti, weeds, garden waste and all sorts of discarded rubbish to be found in some of its streets and recreation areas.

Thame residents tidying up along the Phoenix Trail

The event was Co-ordinated by Sue Martin-Downhill of Thame4Business, part of 21st Century Thame, who was delighted with the response for help this year.

Speaking after the event, Sue said: “Thame Tidy was a great success with the whole of the Phoenix Trail being cleared of litter and many residential areas cleared too. I’d like to thank everyone who joined in; there must have been up to 200 people involved! Particular thanks go to the men from Biffa who cleared the Scout Hut Car Park for us when our skips didn’t arrive!”

Sue extended her thanks to ASM recycling, The fire service, Racquets Fitness Centre, Angela Wilson of Lea park Residents Association, Colin and Steve and all the scouts, Adam and his family, those from Waitrose and others on that team. Sue’s right-hand woman, Maggie, who helped despite only having lived in Thame for few months, was especially singled out for thanks by Sue.

Young Thame scouts get ready to have some fun litter-picking

The areas in the town covered were the Phoenix Trail, Travelodge car park, the Cattlemarket car park, Clarendon Drive – including weeding the alley way leading to the Moats, various other parts of Lea Park including some graffiti removal and other residential streets and alleys throughout Thame, as well as Thame Cricket Ground.

Thame’s Cornerstone Church turned out to contribute to Thame Tidy Day by tackling a house that a family with young children were moving into.

Simultaneously, the annual ‘Moreton Muckout’ took place and the rubbish collected there included a road sign, a traffic cone, a kettle (no lead), a hub and a wheel.

But Sue doesn’t want this community spirit’s affect to have just lasted for the Thame Tidy Day: “If anyone in Thame is going for a walk and would like to take a litter picker and a bag, and pick up litter throughout the year, then please do speak to me,” she added, “as we have litter pickers and gloves available to borrow all through the year! The town centre is litter picked regularly but the alleys are not.

“So, we could improve the look of our town throughout the year with a little walk now and again.”