Council crackdown on illegal motorists and rubbish (From Chorley Citizen)

Council crackdown on illegal motorists and rubbish

2:46pm Wednesday 25th August 2010 in

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DOZENS of residents did their bit for the community by taking part in the council’s latest Week of Action.

Officers from the Chorley Council joined forces with residents in Chorley South West to clean up the area and get rid of large items of rubbish.

There was also a clampdown on motorists driving illegally in the town centre with an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) day on Wednesday.

A total of 39 vehicles were stopped ranging from taxis to vans carrying waste.

Action was taken for a variety of offences including defective tyres, using red diesel and one vehicle was seized because the driver had an outstanding court fine.

Two benefit claims will also be investigated after council officers checked details of those stopped with the authority’s records.

Councillor Eric Bell, who is responsible for improving neighbourhoods in Chorley, said: “Motorists driving illegally in Chorley are not welcome here.The ANPR days help to keep our streets safer and take rogue drivers off the road.”

Residents in the area, which includes the Buttermere and Gillibrand estates as well as Eaves Green, also helped to spruce up a new community garden and create a wildlife pond.

Coun Bell added: “It was a real community effort as we spent the week trying to improve the local area.

“We filled four large skips weighing over seven tonnes with old bits of furniture, mattresses and other bits of rubbish that would otherwise be cluttering up people’s homes.

“It was good to see so many people get involved and I hope they will continue to take pride in their area.”

The Week of Action was part of the Chorley Smile campaign, which encourages residents to work with the council and its partners to keep neighbourhoods clean and make Chorley a safer place.