KNUTSFORD Town Council is looking into ways of setting up a volunteer team to clean the town’s streets.

Councillors discussed the idea of setting up a task force at the meeting of the environment committee held on Monday, July 9. Clr Clive Nicholson urged councillors to keep an eye on the town so it was attractive to visitors and residents.

He stressed the area around the town council offices needed action but Diane Smith, town centre manager, said cutbacks at Cheshire East Council meant the ‘Streetscene’ team were stretched.

Diane added that other towns in the borough employ their own handyman to complete tasks around the area and suggested this was something that Knutsford could look into but added another way was to create a volunteer group.

Clr Tony Dean said: “It’s an excellent idea but if there are only two volunteers then it’s hard to do all the town. But I know Middlewich has something similar set up.”

Middlewich Clean Team started in 2002 when founder Janet Chisholm had a meeting with representatives from schools, businesses and churches in the town.

She was fed up of people throwing sweet and crisp wrappers on the pavement and alleyway outside her newsagents.

By 2003 the members won the ‘Taking A Stand’ award and £1,000 from the Home Office, which they collected from MP Hazel Blears at the Houses of Parliament.

Since then the Clean Team has appeared on BBC and ITV television and the national press and has around 200 members.

Clr Andrew Malloy said he would speak to his contacts in Middlewich about its team with a view of setting up something similar in Knutsford.

Councillors agreed to speak to neighbouring authorities – including Middlewich Town Council – to explore more into the idea.