Council calls on community to help keep North Norfolk the cleanest district in Britain

Environmental Health Service officers at North Norfolk District Council are asking for help to keep the district the cleanest in the country.

North Norfolk was awarded the accolade of being the ‘Cleanest District in the Country’ in 2009 in the Tidy Britain awards and the District Council has entered the biennial competition again this year. NNDC, which sees caring for the environment as one of its major priorities, plans a series of activities to keep the district clean, but says it will need the help of everyone if it is to be as successful as it would like to be in keeping North Norfolk’s unique coast, countryside, towns and villages attractive and enjoyable for both residents and visitors.
 
Council activities will include a new campaign to encourage responsible dog ownership alongside a crack-down on litter louts. Officers will be out and about across the District later this month offering information and education, but also where appropriate  serving fixed penalty notices on people who drop litter or don’t clear up dog mess. After the success of a similar drive last year, this will be followed by another ‘dog awareness’ campaign over the summer, involving Town and Parish Councils as well as local businesses, with officers once again getting out and about to talk to members of the community about how they can help keep North Norfolk ‘clean and green’.

But the Council is also asking for members of the public to let it know where there are problems, such as regular dog fouling or dropping of litter, so it can deal with them as soon as possible.

“We are very serious about keeping North Norfolk clean and green, and it would be wonderful if we could once again be awarded the title of the cleanest District in Britain. It’s a very important issue for local residents and very important as far as our vital tourist economy is concerned,” said Eric Seward, NNDC Cabinet Portfolio holder for Environmental Services. “We will be talking to people across the District, but particularly in litter and dog-fouling ‘hot spots’ and we are quite prepared to take  action where it’s required. But we can’t do it on our own; we need as many eyes and ears as possible. We need the assistance of responsible members of the public to tell us about problem areas and issues so we can tackle them effectively, in partnership with the local community, and catch the offenders.”

Members of the public are asked to contact NNDC Environmental Service officers about any litter or dog fouling issues on 01263 516085 or email ep@north-norfolk.gov.uk