A GROUP of businessmen and women in Lowestoft, intent on cleaning up their neighbourhood, have teamed up with Waveney District Council to “put some pride” back into their area.

A GROUP of businessmen and women in Lowestoft, intent on cleaning up their neighbourhood, have teamed up with Waveney District Council to “put some pride” back into their area.

Shops and offices in Waveney Road and Suffolk Road joined forces to launch Grimewatch.

The efforts of Kevin and Jane Bacon from Bacons Dozen in adopting the area in which they work and live, was this week praised by the council and the many businesses involved in the scheme.

Aquilla Computers, Health Care Homes, Pizza and Pancake, Woodbine Cafe, Tangle Free Hairdressers, Geezers, Perry's Fish and Chips and Claridge Investments have all joined Bacons Dozen in working together with the cleansing department from the council

“All we are trying to do is put a bit of pride into the area where we live and work in,” Mr Bacon said. “We have had a whip round and have bought litter grabbers, bin bags, gloves of various sorts and some brooms to supply groups who want to clean up any areas of Lowestoft.

“The council have agreed to take the litter they collect away, but in addition to this we will be undertaking to keep our own street clean. And in return the cleansing department will be sending a cleaner on a regular basis and I will be conducting a regular clean up and de-weed of the area with the council agreeing to take the mess away.”

Mr and Mrs Bacon have lived and worked in the area for 12 years but they had become “disheartened” by the state of the alleyways, pavements and front of buildings which had rubbish strewn around them.

“The idea is that we can keep our bit clean by working together - and hopefully this will be adopted by other streets and businesses in Lowestoft,” the couple said.

In their first Grimewatch sweep of the area, more than three bin bags of rubbish was collected.

“The businesses involved in the scheme have exchanged telephone numbers and contact details amongst ourselves and we will be keeping a close watch on each other's premises, the dumping of rubbish or litter and any other problems as well as working with the environmental protection department of the council to ensure that anyone leaving litter is dealt with,” Mr Bacon said.

Touncil's cleansing manager, Mike Daniels said: “I would like to thank Kevin Bacon and the businesses in Waveney Road and Suffolk Road for their enthusiasm and support.”

If anyone wishes to organise a clean up, has a problem area, or wants to adopt an area, e-mail operations@waveney.gov.uk or telephone 01502 523468.

Alternatively, send your details to The Journal and we will highlight the problem areas.