Cleaning Up Cornwall for the Olympic Torch

As we are all aware the Olympics will be coming to London this summer and in the lead up to the main event the symbolic Olympic Torch will be travelling across British towns, cities and villages. One county the Torch will visit is Cornwall and in the run up to the Torch’s visit, the county’s authorities are urging residents to pick up the litter in a bid to clean up the event.

The ‘Clean Up Cornwall for the Olympic Torch’ campaign is led by the Clean Cornwall partnership, which includes a variety of community and voluntary organisations. Chaired by Lady Mary Holborow and with the help of the Cornwall Council, Cornwall Waste Action, Rick Stein, Visit Cornwall, Eden and the Environment Agency, the campaign aims to encourage community groups and residents to ensure Cornwall is looking its best in anticipation for the Torch’s arrival.

Steve Double, the Council’s portfolio holder for environment, waste management and shared services said: “We know that the eyes of the world will be on Cornwall for the start of the Olympic Torch Relay

“We will also have a number of visitors in Cornwall over the weekend of May 19. This is a great opportunity to show off our beautiful county and we want to do all we can, together, to make sure that Cornwall is looking its best.

“This means making a special effort to clear any litter and making our countryside, towns and villages look as clean and neat as possible - not just along the actual route of the Olympic Torch relay, but also across the whole of Cornwall.”

The partnership would like everyone to get involved, whether you clean road signs or tidy up public hedgerows and beaches, any help is welcomed.

David Owens, the Council’s Assistant Head of Environment and Waste Management said: “We hope as many people as possible will get involved by holding litter picks in the two weeks between 7 and 19 May.  

“Whether you are a local community group, such as mother and toddlers, air cadets, WI, local church, school, after school club, scout, brownie or cubs, or parish and town council, or just want to join with your family, friends or neighbours, everyone is welcome to take part.”

If you would like to get involved with the campaign e-mail info@cleancornwall.org.