A FORMER mayor is among the first 10 people to sign up for a scheme that aims to encourage residents to improve their neighbourhoods.
Councillor Mary Cartwright, who was Mayor of Peterlee last year, joins nine other community-minded people who have enrolled as street champions.
The tenacious 10 have enrolled on the District of Easington-run scheme and hope to make their local ar
eas of Peterlee and Easington a cleaner, greener and safer place to live and work in.
The other recruits are Alan Taylor, Jason Roache and Paula Rought from Peterlee and Christine Stoker, Robert Williams, George Bott, Alan Summers, Margaret Eales and Esther Rivers from Easington.
The group will be encouraged to report neighbourhood nuisances, take part in local events and support community campaigns.
The Pride in Easington initiative is supported by North Peterlee and Horden and Easington Colliery Pathfinder projects and being piloted in those areas.
Coun George Patterson, chairman of the Pride in Easington steering group, said: "Becoming a street champion will give residents a unique opportunity to change their community for the better so it's great news that a number of people have already taken up the offer."
Each volunteer will receive an introductory information pack and will be invited to attend an induction meeting this week.
During the session they will be given details of the correct people and organisations to contact about specific neighbourhood issues as well as advice on what information they will need to provide when reporting a problem, what they can expect to happen after the report has been filed and how they can monitor its progress.
The group will also find out how they can give feedback on the services provided by the council and other agencies.
Volunteer Christine Stoker, a project support worker with Easington Regeneration Partnership, said: "I'm well aware of the problems that exist in my local area not just because I live there but also because of my work with the partnership. But sometimes even I'm not sure of the right person to go to for help.
"I think not knowing the right or wrong way to complain can often be the reason why problems persist. You need to report a problem properly for it to be effective.
For more information about becoming a street champion contact the Pride in Easington team on (0191) 527 0501 or email streetchampions@easington.gov.uk
The full article contains 404 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
