By Chris Cox

Neighbours and councillors took to the streets of Round Hill  as part of a community clean up.

More than 40 adults and children turned out between October 6 to 7 to help pick up litter, cover graffiti, trim overgrown hedges and clear road gutters around the area, including Richmond Road’s iconic Cat’s Creep walkway.

Councillors Pete West and Ian Davey also showed their support by pitching in on Saturday afternoon.

Coun Davey said: “It was thoroughly enjoyable getting out in the late summer sunshine to work with residents to help tidy up the area and immensely satisfying to see the streets looking so much better at the end.”

The clean up was organised by the Round Hill Society community group after a survey of people in the area found that rubbish and the general look of the streets were a major concern.

Round Hill Society committee chair Annie Rimington said: “We wanted to make sure we actually did something as a community to raise awareness, rather than just knowing that there were these concerns and talking about them but not changing anything.

“We just want to make Round Hill a nicer place to live. It’s been a really good start and even people who haven’t turned up on the day have got involved by tidying up their gardens and the front of their houses.”

As well as the councillors’ involvement on the ground, the action was supported by the council’s City Clean services, who provided tools, materials and two volunteer staff to aid the clean up.

The council has also agreed to carry out any large jobs, such as a major graffiti removal, that the group could not manage themselves.

Maggie Fells, of Richmond Road, was one of those who volunteered to help. Top on her list of priorities was reclaiming the pavement at the bottom of Richmond Road from overgrown foliage.

She said: “Every time I come down with my trolley I get caught in this undergrowth.

"Getting it out of the way is really worthwhile. It’s nice to see the pavement and the road sign again.”

Going onto explain why such community action was important she said: “Some residents seem to think that the council should do everything but they just can’t. If you look at how many people are here helping and the man hours involved, you can understand why.”

The Round Hill Society hope to make the clean up an annual event after the success of the weekend’s effort and other groups wishing to carry out similar action are encouraged to contact Brighton and Hove City Council for support.