Tidy Our Town is the Chronicle & Echo's latest campaign, launched in collaboration with the Northants Litter Wombles. Through regular stories, we hope to raise awareness of the littering and fly tipping issues across the town - and shine a light on the positive work of those fighting against it.

Tidy Our Town: Meet the award-nominated volunteer working hard to clear Northampton’s waterways

Meet the award-nominated volunteer who has worked hard for more than a decade to clear Northampton’s waterways for the benefit of the community. Dave Jordan, known by the name as Sonik for his standout blue hair, began litter picking around 13 years ago when he noticed a number of trolleys, bikes and other bulky items in the town’s waterways.

Tidy Our Town: We should be more grateful for the Northants Litter Wombles and all they do for our county

To conclude our week of daily Tidy Our Town coverage, it is time to discuss why we should be more grateful for the Northants Litter Wombles and all they do for our county. This newspaper has now been collaborating with the Northants Litter Wombles for more than a year-and-a-half, and each story opens our eyes further to the good people around us.

Tidy Our Town: Formerly disgusted resident praises ‘some improvements’ to her hotspot area

A resident of more than four decades, who previously shared her disgust at the lack of respect for her area, has praised some improvements during recent months. It was back in February when Helene Kluger-Langer first spoke to the Chronicle & Echo as part of the Tidy Our Town campaign, and she now believes things are starting to look up seven months on.

Tidy Our Town: Wombles to thank for clearing the streets ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup arrival

To kickstart a week of daily Tidy Our Town coverage, we are acknowledging the work done by the Northants Litter Wombles to prepare for the arrival of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Rugby fever has well and truly taken over Northampton as Franklin’s Gardens is hosting a number of matches throughout the tournament – and it was important to get the town ready for an influx of visitors and fans.

Tidy Our Town: ‘Using recycling bags over boxes has already reduced litter levels in our hotspot area’

West Northamptonshire is in the midst of a time of change, and I will continue to hold my breath as to what can be done to minimise littering and fly tipping and support the work of volunteers. It was more than two months ago when Reform took over the running of West Northamptonshire Council, and our most recent Tidy Our Town story saw a Northants Litter Womble share his first impressions of the new administration.

Tidy Our Town: Volunteer praises ‘proactive’ Reform cabinet member and hopes WNC don’t face ‘uphill struggle’

A Northants Litter Womble has praised a West Northamptonshire Council cabinet member as “proactive” and shared his hope that the local authority does not face an “uphill struggle”. Volunteer Mark Watson said that Councillor Nigel Stansfield, the new cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, reached out to the Northants Litter Wombles and organised a three-hour meeting to discuss the issues of littering and fly tipping.

Tidy Our Town: ‘I am disgusted at the little respect,’ says resident of more than four decades

A long-standing resident, who has lived on her street for more than four decades, has once again expressed her disgust at the little respect that those who litter and fly tip have for the community. It was back in February when Helene Kluger-Langer first spoke to the Chronicle & Echo as part of the Tidy Our Town campaign, and she believes the situation has not improved four months on.

Tidy Our Town: ‘The services are there but they are not appropriate to the needs across Northampton’

Two charity representatives have spoken out about the levels of littering and fly tipping in their area, and what they would like to see across Northampton as the town enters a period of change. In the latest instalment of the Tidy Our Town campaign, CEO Louise Danielczuk and trustee Carolyn Long from Growing Together Northampton spoke to the Chronicle & Echo.

Tidy Our Town: Meet the councillor who helped get a Deposit Return Scheme machine in Northampton

Meet the councillor who helped to get a Deposit Return Scheme machine installed in Northampton for the first time, who is the latest to join the Tidy Our Town campaign. The reverse vending machine was placed at the University of Northampton at the end of February, as a collaboration between the Northants Litter Wombles, installer Trovr and the University.

Tidy Our Town: West Northants Labour leader believes collaboration is key in tackling littering and fly tipping

The leader of the West Northants Labour Group believes collaboration is key in tackling the issue of littering and fly tipping across the county, and she is keen to see more of it moving forward. Councillor Wendy Randall, who is the Labour representative for Daventry West, is the latest to speak to the Chronicle & Echo as part of the Tidy Our Town campaign.

Tidy Our Town: Labour councillor explains how ‘community skip scheme’ could benefit West Northamptonshire

A Labour councillor has explained how a ‘community skip scheme’ could benefit West Northamptonshire and its ongoing issue with littering and fly tipping. This scheme was among a number of suggestions made in the West Northamptonshire Labour Party’s budget amendments on February 20, all of which were voted against at the council meeting.

Tidy Our Town: Here are West Northamptonshire Council’s plans to tackle the blight of littering and fly tipping

Here are West Northamptonshire Council’s plans to tackle the blight of littering and fly tipping, shared with this newspaper by deputy leader Councillor Matt Golby. In the first part of his interview, the cabinet member for adult care, public health and regulatory services shared that he is equally “sick and fed up” of the ongoing issue as the public.

Tidy Our Town: Council deputy leader says he is equally ‘sick and fed up’ of littering and fly tipping

In the latest installment of the Tidy Our Town campaign, West Northamptonshire Council deputy leader Councillor Matt Golby spoke to the Chronicle & Echo. Cllr Golby, who is also the cabinet member for adult care, public health and regulatory services, repeatedly stressed that he and the council are equally “sick and fed up” of the blight of littering and fly tipping.

Tidy Our Town: More than 35,000 purple bags filled by Northants Litter Wombles in the past 12 months

More than 35,000 purple bags have been filled with rubbish by the Northants Litter Wombles over the past 12 months, since the launch of the Tidy Our Town campaign in February 2024. Group founder Nicola Elliott’s litter picking journey began a year before the ‘purple army’ was formed, when she set up her own village group where she lives in West Haddon.
Load More Articles