Bethesda Groups Join Forces To Tackle Rubbish

Children and staff from Ysgol Penybryn, Bethesda, with members of Balchder Bro Ogwen and Bethesda Litterpickers. Pictured on the right are local Gwynedd Councillor Ann Williams and Gwynedd Council’s Tidy Towns Officer, Jonathan Neale ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bethesda groups join forces to tackle rubbish ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two local community groups and a Bethesda primary school recently joined forces to carry out a joint effort to tackle rubbish in the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of Balchder Bro Ogwen, Bethesda Litter pickers and Year 6 pupils from Ysgol Pen-y-bryn came together to clean-up an area between the village and the old quarry at Pant Dreiniog which is now a popular recreational area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council’s Tidy Towns Officer, Jonathan Neale supplied the equipment before everyone warmed up with their litter pickers and collected over 30 bags of litter throughout the day, including two builders’ dumpy bags, a car bonnet and child’s seat. The rubbish was later removed by the Council’s Street Cleaning Unit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor John Wynn Jones, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Members for Environment, said: “There are numerous voluntary groups currently working in Gwynedd with the support of Tidy Towns. Their efforts in looking after their environment by cleaning up litter from our communities shows how much community pride exists. This is extremely heartening, even though it’s also a sad reflection on how an irresponsible minority can blight the local environment for all.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local Gwynedd Councillor Ann Williams,. Who represents the Ogwen ward on Gwynedd Council, noted: “It was good to get the chance to work with Bethesda Litterpickers, and especially also with the schoolchildren, who were once again very keen to help. The more people who show community pride, the more things will improve. Thanks to Tidy Towns for supplying the equipment and to all who contributed to the event, especially the children and Ceira Wyn from Ysgol Pen-y-bryn.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise Harvey, from Bethesda Litterpickers, added: “It always makes me a little bit sad that some people can behave so badly towards the world we live in and treat it with no respect. But then, when we all meet up like this and do such a brilliant job, I feel very blessed that there really are some totally wonderful people in this world too. Thank you so much to Pen-y-Bryn, Balcher Bro Ogwen and our very own Bethesda Litter Pickers volunteers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ceren Lloyd, Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn headteacher, said: “As a school situated in the middle of Bethesda we are very aware for the need to care for our environment. Our school’s Green Group have a specific environmental brief and meet regularly to discuss and decide upon projects and we’re therefore very pleased to get the chance to work with the community once again at Pant Dreiniog.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those who discard litter in a public place are committing a crime. Anyone found guilty of littering in any public place could face a fine of up to £2,500. To report any instances of fly-tipping, contact Gwynedd Council’s street enforcement team on 01766 771000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd’s Tidy Towns scheme is funded by a Welsh Government grant which aims to improve the local environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​