CHURCHILL and Blakedown have become the first areas in Wyre Forest to step up and make improvements to their litter bin provision, thanks to change in the way the service is run.

Under the Localism initiative, Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council has secured a grant of almost £5,000 from Wyre Forest District Council to purchase and install 29 litter bins throughout the two villages.

Jim Long, a parish councillor, said: “We have almost doubled the number of bins and hope that by them supplying free dog waste bins at the 15 locations, we will really encourage people to keep our villages clean.

“It’s all about loving where you live.”

The new bins are suitable for both litter and dog waste and were sourced and specified by Blakedown resident John Lorton, using his experience as a former building inspector. They will be emptied regularly by village handyman Mark Jones.

The Parish Council took over the responsibility for emptying litter bins in the Parish in July and is planning to take on further responsibilities under the Localism initiative such as grass mowing and safeguarding the future of the village car park.