School Pupils Call On Residents To Keep Park ‘Clean, Safe And Tidy’

Primary school pupils from Port Talbot have taken part in a competition to urge residents to act responsibly when using a local park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over 80 pupils from four schools were asked to create a sign for a local environmental project known as ‘Keep Vivian Park Clean, Safe and Tidy’. The competition involved pupils coming up with a slogan and eye catching drawing for a sign to remind local residents to look after Vivian Park. The aim of the project was to help address anti-social behaviour such as people dropping litter, graffiti and dog fouling. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The four leading designs, one from each of the participating schools, have been converted into signs which will be displayed at Vivian Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The overall winner of the competition was 10 year old Cai John of St. Joseph’s Junior School who won his school a talking ‘Percy Penguin’ educational litter bin, a litter-picking cart, and an ECO environmental education pack. The other participating schools; Sandfields, Awel y Mor and St. Therese’s, also received a litter-picking kit and certificates to recognise their valuable input to the project. Some prizes were donated by the Helping Hand Environmental Company who part sponsored the project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The competition was organised by Neath Port Talbot’s Waste and Neighbourhood Services team in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, a charity organisation that supports community groups and schools to protect their local environment. Working in partnership has enabled the project to secure funding under the Welsh Government’s Tidy Towns initiative and to address a number of issues to improve and maintain the park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Ali Thomas OBE presented the prizes at the awards ceremony held at St. Joseph’s Junior School on Monday (13th March). Councillor Thomas OBE said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This competition has been a great opportunity for pupils to take part in a meaningful activity while learning about the importance of looking after the environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The ‘Keep Vivian Park Clean, Safe and Tidy’ project encourages everyone in the community to take responsibility for maintaining the park. It is important that we look after all our parks to ensure people can continue to enjoy the benefits of open green spaces.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​