Chief Executive's Landscape Award 2008 victory for Middleton
6 October 2008
The council's
street services team for Middleton is celebrating after claiming
victory in this year’s Chief Executive’s Landscape Award.
Our Chief Executive, Roger Ellis, made the announcement
earlier today at Rochdale Town Hall and presented the winning team
with their trophy for redesigning and planting shrub beds opposite
the Dusty Miller Public House.
Judged by Roger Ellis and cabinet member for environment and
sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse, the Chief Executive’s
Landscape Award - which is now in its fourth year - is presented to
the township team that the judges believe has made the most
significant landscape improvement and for the community which uses
it.
Continuing last year’s site inspection criteria, areas improved
for previous Chief Executive’s Landscape Awards were also looked at
as part of the judging process. Brought in to encourage the long
term future and sustainability of the improvements made, the
maintenance of these sites will form a proportion of the marks
allocated.
Crisp, clean sites
Commenting on Middleton’s win, Roger Ellis, Chief Executive
of the council, said: “The Middleton team once again has
proven how a dose of creativity and innovation can go a long way.
This team has won not only for the site they have landscaped this
year, but also for the crisp, clean and striking maintenance of the
sites they have worked on over previous years in this
competition.”
From low maintenance sites right through to those that are
highly ornamental, township teams are given the autonomy to
identify areas to improve every year – but with the rule that the
site has a high visibility in the respective township area.
This year, each team had been given a budget of £1,500 from the
council’s Environmental Management service’s annual maintenance
funds. Should they wish, teams are also free to access funding from
other sources - such as from other council services, township
grants or from private businesses.
Long term community benefits
Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and
sustainability, added: “It has been an absolute pleasure to go out
and see the improvements that have been made across all four
townships. However, what is important is that the sites that have
been landscaped as part of the Chief Executive Landscape Awards are
sustainable and much easier to maintain than they were before –
thus saving money.”
The sites that have been judged this year are:
- Heywood – enhanced maintenance of two plots on Bury
Street.
- Middleton – redesign and planting of shrub beds opposite Dusty
Miller Public House, Middleton Gardens.
- Pennines – improving the aesthetics of the Newhey bus
terminus.
- Rochdale – Re-landscaping of the road frontage at St Mary’s
Gate including large shrub removal.