Hightown community group given helping hand in beach cleaning efforts

United Utilities has given a community group in Hightown a helping hand with their beach cleaning efforts. 

The North West’s water company has given Tommy Norbury and the Hightown beach cleaners more than £1,600 of new equipment. 

A few times a month, Tommy and other volunteers can be found on Hightown beach and nearby Crosby beach filling up bin bags with litter and debris.

Now, thanks to a donation from United Utilities’ Better Rivers Community Fund, they can do this safely and more easily with the help of a large wheelbarrow and buckets, bin bag holders, sharps boxes, shovels, throw lines, clothing and footwear. 

The equipment was recently handed to the group at the start of an event near Blundell Sands Sailing Club. United Utilities River Ranger, Ashleigh Royds handed over the goods and supported the team on their two hour litter pick. 

Tommy Norbury, said: "I'd like to say a huge thank you to United Utilities for supplying us with these items - beach clearing is hard, and all this equipment will make it so much easier.

"Everyone has a role to play in keeping beaches, the sea and our rivers clean - I know that - and I want other people to know that if we all sit up and take action, it'll make a big difference", he added.

Mark Booth, Area engagement lead for Merseyside at United Utilities, said: “We were pleased to be able to help Tommy and his fellow volunteers.  They do a terrific job and we hope the new equipment will make a real difference for them.”

The Better Rivers Community Fund supports community groups whose activities:

• benefit local watercourses and riverside environments
• act as catalyst for improved community and environmental wellbeing
• reconnect communities to riverside environments
• promote sustainable drainage

Groups can apply to the fund for up to £2,500 worth of support by emailing Stakeholderrelations@uuplc.co.uk with details of their request.