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Working together in The Warren
St Claire’s Open Space in Warren Park is one of the borough’s
hidden treasures: with a stream running through and the occasional
wild deer, it is quite a haven for wildlife and a real jewel in the
borough crown.
However, it is also a favourite spot for underhand fly-tipping
and items ranging from unwanted toys, bags of domestic rubbish and
even long wheel-based vans have been dumped there over the last few
years.
Partners at the Pride of Place Project in Leigh Park decided
that a clean up was in order. The Unpaid Work Team from the
National Probation Service was drafted in together with Havant
Borough Council’s own litter teams and helped to clear away many
bags of rubbish, mattresses, shopping trolleys, beds, prams and bin
bags left by our less environmentally-responsible residents.
However one item no-one had been able to remove was a Mercedes
Sprinter van that had been burnt out some time ago. It was trapped
at the bottom of a very steep drop and beyond the lifting
capability of any machinery owned by Havant Council.
Nevertheless, never to be defeated, Havant Borough Council’s
Environmental Quality Rangers come up with the idea that maybe they
could draft in a little extra help from the Army. With no further
ado contact was made with local Territorial Army Unit 128 Workshop
Company of 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
at their base in Cosham.
Only too happy to help and to use as an exercise the,
TA
arrived on site in St
Claire’s Avenue with a huge green 28 tonne Foden recovery vehicle
to pull the Sprinter van from the steep ditch.
Gary Morton, Team Leader of the Environmental Quality Rangers,
said, “It was fantastic. The team took a quick look around the
vehicle, dug some earth away from around it, fixed a large cable
onto the van and towed it back up the hill.”
The wreck, a motorcycle and some other metal items also found at
the bottom of the ditch have now been taken away while Havant
Borough Council looks into the ownership of the motor vehicles.
Thank you to all of those involved in helping to clear this part
of the borough, making it pleasant for everyone to enjoy.
If you are interested in joining or would like more information
about the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, please contact
them direct on 023 9267 5803.
To view more
information on the
TA
follow
this link to the Army website (external)>>