Last Sunday, I was invited by my neighbouring businesses in Crewe to take part in their Corner Clean Up. I was delighted to attend; there’s a lot of reasons to be proud of our area and it’s only right that our streets should reflect that. It’s inspiring to be part of a community where so many people and businesses are fighting to make things better. 

Anti-social behaviour takes many forms and unfortunately in Crewe, it means there’s lots of rubbish in places there shouldn’t be. This isn’t something that’s unique to us: incidents of fly-tipping have increased significantly across the UK and are stretching the resources of local authorities still reeling from over a decade of austerity. 

With my office on Edleston Road, I understand why local business owners want to see our streets cleaned up. For many of us, it’s the first thing we notice when we walk down the road or past a shop window.  

I know this government has acknowledged the issue of fly-tipping and is equipping Councils with the latest technology; things like the new mobile CCTV cameras and drones to seize vehicles that are involved in repeat offences and crush them. 

Labour is also considering plans to change the law meaning that fly tippers could potentially face five-year prison sentences. These mechanisms will discourage people from dumping their waste on our streets in the long-term. 

In the meantime, people like Dana, Meg, Carina, Jamie, Laura and Josh are doing their best to encourage a sense of pride in our streets. We can’t write that into law, but it’s definitely something we all play a role in creating.  

Last weekend was a demonstration of true community spirit. As business owners, and a public representative myself, we have a vested interest in the appearance of our town; our livelihoods depend on it.  

But for the organisations involved in the clean-up, I think it runs deeper than that. They want to build a sense of togetherness and lead by example – what we saw on Sunday felt like part of the ‘old Crewe’ that so many constituents tell me about. 

We managed to clear High Street and finished with a well-earned drink at Big Mugs. I wish I’d taken a before picture to give you a better idea of the difference it’s made. Hopefully, it’ll make people think twice before leaving rubbish where it doesn’t belong. 

Thanks to my neighbours for inviting me to the Clean Up. I look forward to working with them again on future town centre regeneration projects and building on those community ties.