A TIDY Towns initiative has been launched in Newton Abbot by two leading councillors, backed by local businesses.

Town Councillors Alex Hall and Mike Joyce are now calling on the people of Newton Abbot to come forward and help keep their town and neighbourhood litter free.

Local businesses Austins Stores, Aaron Printers and your Mid-Devon Advertiser have sponsored the equipment to help their campaign.

Austins’ owner David Austin and Mid-Devon Advertiser editor Nick Knight were delighted to hand over the high viz jackets to the councillors outside the iconic St Leonard’s Clock Tower, so that they can be available for anyone in the Newton Abbot district to step up and show their pride in their town.

With Nick was Andrea McTigue from the paper’s accounts department, who has already volunteered to set up a litter pick in her street.

Cllr Hall pledged when he was first elected as the youngest town councillor that he intended to combat litter in the town.

‘Mike and I now intend to go out and about and hope people will get involved and help tidy up our unique town,’ he said.

‘They can contact either of us via our email addresses (see end of story) and we will help them get started and lend them the equipment as we now have high-viz tops, litter pickers and bin bag holders.’

Cllr Joyce said: ‘We can see the district and county councils have less and less funding to carry out work in our town so we are stepping up to look after our own town.

‘We need people to come out and help us show their pride in our fantastic town and help keep it litter free.

‘We are only trustees of the town and caring for it for future generations is vitally important,’ added Cllr Joyce.

‘We’re grateful to Austins, the Mid-Devon Advertiser and Aaron Printers for their backing.’

David Austin said: ‘We’re delighted to support this initiative as it’s extremely important to keep our town tidy.

‘It is impressive what you have started today.’

Nick Knight said: ‘We at the Mid-Devon Advertiser are delighted to be able to support Cllrs Joyce and Hall in their war on litter.

‘Please lend them your support and get in touch with them so they can arrange sessions to keep our special town litter free.’

The next litter pick will begin at 2.30pm on Thursday, November 22, from the Clock Tower.

TAKE PART

To volunteer to help keep your part of town tidy and have the equipment on loan or to take part in a litter pick, contact either Cllr Hall or Cllr Joyce at: [email protected]