LITTER pickers are now available from the council at a number of different locations including Neston and across West Cheshire.

Vivo Care Choices is an in-house service at Cheshire West and Chester Council which provides a range of services for people with learning disabilities and autism, along with older people.

People accessing Vivo's services, as well as the local community, can all do their bit for the environment.

Litter pickers are now available at the following Vivo buildings.

  • Neston Community Youth Centre
  • Water Tower Gardens, Chester
  • Meadowbank Lodge, Winsford

The equipment has been provided by Eco Communities as part its Plastic Free Cheshire project and all people need to do to get involved is follow these instructions.

  • Borrow the kit from one of the locations
  • Go for a walk and fill the bag
  • Recycle what you can
  • Leave your bag at the agreed location
  • Take a photo and log your findings
  • Return the equipment

Since Vivo buildings have been acting as litter picking hubs, people accessing services have regularly been out and about in the community, doing their bit for the environment.

It builds on the work that the Green team has done over the last couple of years, taking part in environmental projects to help develop allotments and green spaces across west Cheshire.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council, recently visited Vivo’s services in Neston to help with litter picking in the community.

She said: “This is an excellent initiative that the Council and Vivo are delighted to be working alongside Eco Communities on.

“Along with Vivo buildings, litter pickers can be found at the Countess of Chester Country Park, Grosvenor Park and many other locations, adding to the litter pickers that are available in libraries across the borough.

“I was delighted to join people using Vivo’s services on a recent trip out in the community and I can’t wait to return again in the future.

“It was really inspiring to see how much they all enjoyed doing their bit for the environment, building on all the fantastic work they’re already doing in the community.”

Lynn, who uses Vivo’s services and has helped with the project, added: “When we pick the rubbish up, it’s important because it keeps the park clean and is good for the environment. It was good exercise too.”

The Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan encourages residents to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible to help the borough become carbon neutral by 2045. The Plastic Free Cheshire project is just one way of taking action to help achieve this.