Campaign to Protect Rural England praises Sunderland Echo for 'key' Clean Streets campaign

A countryside charity has praised the Sunderland Echo's Clean Streets campaign for 'sustained efforts to tackle litter and fly-tipping issues in the city.’
Penshaw Monument is set against a backdrop of some of Sunderland's most sweeping countrysidePenshaw Monument is set against a backdrop of some of Sunderland's most sweeping countryside
Penshaw Monument is set against a backdrop of some of Sunderland's most sweeping countryside

The Echo launched its Clean Streets campaign in December 2017 in response to readers’ concerns about the cleanliness of public spaces across Sunderland.

Backed by Sunderland City Council, the campaign calls on the public to take pride in their community, and report any incidents of fly-tipping and littering.

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Now the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) - the first charity to wage a national anti-litter effort, across the country, more than a decade ago - has praised the campaign, saying the Echo’s long-term support for tackling the issue is key.

Richard Cowen, chair of countryside charity, CPRE North EastRichard Cowen, chair of countryside charity, CPRE North East
Richard Cowen, chair of countryside charity, CPRE North East

Richard Cowen, chair of the North East region of CPRE, said: “The Echo deserves every credit for keeping the spotlight on a problem which is antisocial and environmentally harmful but also one which could be quickly resolved if those who cause the problems changed their behaviour.

“Any effort to highlight litter problems and push for them to be tackled is worthwhile and is to be welcomed.

“But the most effective campaigns are ones like the Echo’s Clean Streets. which represents sustained efforts to tackle litter and fly-tipping issues in the city and keep the issue in the spotlight week after week, month after month.”

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Litter, plastics, recycling, renewables are all environmental issues that have shot up the public agenda of concerns in recent years.

The CPRE, led by former Durham University Chancellor and world-renowned author Bill Bryson, ran an influential Stop the Drop campaign from 2008-15 and helped pushed the subject as much into the public eye as possible.

Mr Cowen said: “CPRE was instrumental in the foundation of the Keep Britain Tidy Group in 1955, so we go back a long way and you have to be long-term on issues like this, just as the Echo has been and continues to be.”The Echo launched its Clean Streets Campaign in December 2017 in response to readers’ concerns about the cleanliness of public spaces across Sunderland.