South Ayrshire Council News

Councillors Elaine Little and Mike Peddie, residents from the flats and Council staff.

P5 children from Newton Primary School are actively caring for the environment by addressing the litter problem along the Ayr walkway.

The initiative is a community project that encourages the children to be active citizens by keeping their local environment litter free. Local Councillors Elaine Little, Bill Grant, Mike Peddie and Robin Reid, who represent the Ayr West Ward have been working on the project to encourage active citizenship and hope to roll out similar schemes within Ayr town centre and other parts of their ward.

South Ayrshire Council's Waste Management section supported the initiative by talking to P5’s and preparing them for the event and ensured that appropriate safety procedures were adhered to.

The Council supplied equipment to everyone taking part, including litter pickers, gloves, coloured tabards and ringed bags.

On the day of the clean up the children set off from their school, accompanied by school staff and Councillors, and walked down to the Ayr walk next to the Riverside flats. Ten Ayr Academy pupils also took part and each of these pupils 'buddied' two Newton Primary School children promoting positive partnership and liaison between the schools.

Councillor Hywel Davies, the Portfolio Carrier for Learning and Prosperity said: "This is indeed positive citizenship in action. The children wanted to clean up the area, they planned how to do it and have carried their plan through. I would like to commend everyone involved in the litter picking session for their hard work and for helping to make Ayr a more attractive place."

"Importantly this initiative has brought together primary and secondary school pupils, but even better it has brought young people and older people together, which can only be a positive thing. It is crucial that older residents and young members of the community build positive relationships."

The Newton Primary school pupils had created colourful posters to promote this important event. Some of their artwork has now been displayed in the windows of residents who live in the high flats and will serve as a reminder to people not to drop litter.

May Reilly, Secretary of the River Ayr Tenants Association said: "This is a wonderful initiative that has brought together the young people and the residents of the River Ayr Tenants Association to work in partnership for the benefit of the community."

The young people worked very hard picking up litter, and to show their appreciation the Riverside Tenants Association provided a drink of juice and a biscuit for each child.

Staff at Newton Primary School intend this to be the first of a number of litter picks where the children will work in partnership with the local community to make the environment a more pleasant and clean place to live, work and play.