Alliance Councillors Karen Douglas and Martin McRandal have taken their aims for a cleaner borough to the next level, having secured all party support for a Northern Ireland-wide litter strategy to be created.

Most weekends the local pair can be found cleaning up areas around North Down, helping create community litter picks encouraging everyone to take a pride in their area.

Karen said: “I’m delighted to receive the backing of all political parties in our aim to see a more a joint-up approach to tackling litter. That’s why it’s important we write to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to request urgent action is taken to deal with the ever increasing public and environmental health issue which littering currently presents.

“We live in a beautiful community, something which we take great pride in promoting and enjoying. Yet with this comes real responsibility. The recent lockdown restrictions have shown us all the impact the environment in which we live has on the quality of our lives, so together we must do everything possible to protect and enhance what we have come to rely on.

“Whilst it’s great to see the Council also respond to the upsurge in litter with an increase in wardens to monitor and respond swiftly to incidents of littering, a Northern Ireland wide approach would tap into everyone who is staying at home to holiday this year.”
Councillor Martin McRandal added: “With the current travel concerns, more and more people are choosing to visit areas of beauty within our own borough. It’s fantastic to see so many people enjoying the area, but with that comes added pressure in the form of the amount of litter so easily discarded.

“As a regular beach cleaner I often see the lack of thought that people show beauty spots such as Seapark and Ballyholme, to name a few. I would urge everyone to think about their actions and please take their litter home with them.”