Cross border “Cleaner Community Campaign” launched

A new cross border “Cleaner Community Campaign” has been launched under the umbrella of the North West Regional Development Group.
This campaign will see Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council working together with communities along the border to facilitate community clean-ups and local environmental initiatives.
Donegal County Council says this is an opportunity for both Councils to explore ways to work with communities in their respective areas and to learn from successful initiatives already taking place across the North West.
The council’s Environment Services Director Michael Mc Garvey says campaigns such as the Big Donegal Clean Up have created a real sense of community spirit and pride, and the social side of the event is every bit as important as the clean-up itself.
His counterpart on Derry and Strabane District Council said it’s important that the councils work together so they can learn from each others achievements, as well as providing a more joined up service for community groups along the border. Conor Canning the North West Regional Development Group is a great mechanism under which this can be done.
 
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Councils’ joint statement in full –
A new “Cleaner Community Campaign” involving both Donegal County Council and the Derry City and Strabane District Council has been launched under the umbrella of the North West Regional Development Group.
This campaign will see both Councils working together with communities along the border to facilitate community clean-ups and local environmental initiatives.
Michael McGarvey Director of Water & Environment with Donegal County Council stated that “this is an opportunity for both Councils to explore ways to work with communities in our areas and to learn from successful initiatives already taking place in each Council area.  For example, in Donegal we have had a very successful #BigDonegalCleanUp this year which was run in conjunction with the national Spring Clean Campaign and we have seen hundreds of volunteers from all over the county take part in local community clean-ups.  The sense of community spirit and pride that these initiatives have brought to areas has been huge and it is a true partnership approach between the Council and the local community group.  While the community clean up is the main aim of the event, the social side of the event is every bit as important.”
Conor Canning, Head of Environment with Derry City & Strabane District Council said “We would like to see how we as Councils can work together so that we can learn from each others achievements as well as providing a more joined up service for community groups along the border to allow them to undertake community clean-ups and environmental initiatives and the North West Regional Development Group is a great mechanism to enable us to do this.”
The North West Regional Development Group which is jointly led by Donegal County Council and the Derry City & Strabane District Council has been set up to promote co-operation and collaboration on a cross border basis in a number of key areas including in the area of sustainable development and environmental initiatives.
“We are pleased to have groups active including the Carrigans Tidy Towns committee who joined us today for our launch” says Michael McGarvey from Donegal County Council.
Community groups including sports clubs, tidy towns groups and environmental groups who are interested in getting involved should contact Suzanne Bogan Donegal County Council on 074 91 53900 or John Quinn Derry City & Strabane District Council on 028 71253253.