Peterborough: Prisoners Keep City Tidy

25 March 2014, 12:45 | Updated: 26 March 2014, 15:05

An innovative scheme is being launched that will help make the streets of Peterborough cleaner and give offenders the chance to put something back into society.

Peterborough City Council is working with the Millfield and New England Regeneration Partnership, Amey (formerly Enterprise Peterborough), HMP Peterborough and Community Payback, on a project to bring additional street cleaning to the Millfield area.

The scheme will see offenders working with staff from Amey to clear up flytipping from the area. They will also do some litter picking.

The prison has provided equipment for the street cleaning and is pleased to help support such a positive local initiative.

The Millfield area has had problems with flytipping in recent times.

From November to January there were 2,358 incidents of flytipping in Peterborough with a fifth of them (473) occurring in the New England, Millfield and Gladstone areas and costs around £80,000 a year to clear up.

Councillor Nigel North, Cabinet Member for Environment Capital and Neighbourhoods, said: "Let's be clear, this scheme is about adding to the cleaning that already goes on in this area and giving people who owe society a debt the chance to pay it back in a constructive fashion.

"This area has a problem with flytipping and litter and the council does not have a never-ending budget to pick up the bill.

"This is one part of a wider operation to tackle litter and flytipping. We also want to educate people about the proper way to dump waste."

Brian Gasgoyne, chairman of the Millfield and New England Regeneration Programme, said: "I am really pleased this scheme is getting off the ground. This will make the Millfield area cleaner and that is something everyone should welcome."

Martin Raper, Account Director for Amey, said: "We welcome the opportunity to work with Peterborough City Council and the other agencies to enhance our street cleaning schedule in this area.

"Millfield is a hotspot for flytipping and littering problems, so by working with local partners we can work at addressing these problems for the residents in the area."

Nick Leader, Director of HMP Peterborough, which is run by Sodexo Justice Services, said: "I am delighted that the prison can help support this work that will help make the area a cleaner and safer place for all the local community."