THE streets are said to be cleaner than ever before in lower Loughor thanks to the success of a litter and dog fouling campaign.
More than 150 bags of litter and 50 bags of dog mess have been collected from the streets of the community since the launch of "Bag it! Bin it!".
Swansea Council has joined forces with Lower Loughor residents and the Friends of Parc Williams to keep their streets and green spaces free from dog fouling and litter.
Dozens of piles of dog mess have also been collected since the campaign kicked off in April. Other collections have included a half-van full of fly-tipped waste from Heol Y Wern and dozens of bags of rubbish for recycling.
Eileen Bartlett, Secretary of the Friends of Parc Williams, said: "The response from the community has been tremendous. One bag full of waste might not look that much but you really notice how much rubbish it holds when you empty it out. The campaign means there's been a visible difference on the streets of lower Loughor."
Swansea Council has put up posters as part of the campaign showing three-year-old local boy Harry Boulter on the sidelines of Parc Williams, asking dog owners not to allow their dogs to do their business on the field there.
Christine Richards, deputy leader of Swansea Council and cabinet member for community engagement and democracy, said: "The residents of lower Loughor approached us with their concerns about the amount of litter and dog mess dirtying their community and, although the campaign has been led by local residents, we've been on hand to offer support and expertise. This is a fantastic example of how we can closely engage with local communities to help tackle their problems."
Every year Swansea Council spends around £2.5million clearing up litter and dog mess. This year, an extra £160,000 is being dedicated specifically to tackle dog fouling.
June Burtonshaw, Swansea Council's cabinet member for place, said: "We do all we can across the city to keep our streets, parks and other public spaces as free as possible from dog fouling and litter, but we need local people to play their part too. The residents of Lower Loughor have done a terrific job in showing what can be achieved in this community-led project and we hope it will inspire other communities across the city to follow suit."
