CAMPAIGN: COMMUNITY service workers have been brought in to help in the effort to clear up Trowbridge.

A path next to Walwayne Court School had become a dumping ground for rubbish and people had been finding it difficult to get through that, and the nettles growing there.

Town councillor and school governor, Graham Hedley, said: "It was difficult to negotiate, particularly for people with pushchairs and we are grateful for all the work done through community service.

"They are hoping to be more and more involved in this kind of work in the town."

The school had to buy the land in order to have a rear access to their grounds.

Headteacher, Richard Brown, said: "It would have cost us a significant amount of money out of our budget to get it cleared up ourselves and that would have been to the detriment of the school's pupils."

Cllr Hedley has also been supervising the clearing out of Lambrok stream, which has been done on Sundays for the past two months.

They have been clearing

blackthorn trees that have grown sideways, covering over the stream, as well as huge amounts of rubbish that have been dumped in there over many years.

Mr Hedley said: "We have pulled out 14 bakers' trolleys, settees, a paraffin stove, prams one of the worst things to get out is carpet and there seems to be no end to the number of bicycles in there."

They still have a long way to go before the stream is fully restored.

One of the problems is what to do with the rubbish once it has been retrieved from the stream.

Work has had to be called off for the time being as conditions are too dangerous.

Mr Hedley said: "The ground is like a swamp down there at the moment. We will probably have to stop the work over winter, although we may get some Sundays there."

Both the town council and the district council are involved in clearing up the town and are making plans to tackle other problem areas.

Trowbridge town clerk, Doug Ross, said: "There are areas in the town that have been identified for work and we are looking to identify other areas that no-one is currently looking after."

The Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News wants to hear if you know about any dumped rubbish. Give our newsdesk a ring on (01225) 777292. Or mail wtimes@newswilts.co.uk.