AN ONGOING campaign to ensure that people take pride in their area is pressing on into its second year.

The ‘Respect Your Neighbourhood’ project involves a full day of action in a particular area of Hartlepool one day a month aimed at improving local neighbourhoods.

Prior to the day, the key organisations work with the ward councillors from the town and members of the public to help identify issues which need tackling.

Led by Hartlepool Council, the initiative involves other key organisations including the police, fire brigade and housing providers under the banner of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership.

Throughout the year, all eleven borough wards will again be made the focus of the campaign on a rotation basis.

This year’s first day of action was in Burn Valley Ward and targeted the Burn Valley Gardens and allotments and the neighbouring streets between the gardens and Elwick Road, stretching from Burn Valley Road through to Penrhyn Street.

Councillor Allan Barclay, vice-chairman of the council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “The majority of people in the Burn Valley Ward have respect for their local area and their neighbours - our target is the small minority who don’t.

“Everyone needs to act responsibly and not create the sort of issues which we then have to tackle at considerable cost in action days, such as this.”

Among the range of activities on the day were an early morning patrol of the park where two fixed penalty notices were issued for dog fouling and a spot-check of the allotments to make sure that no unauthorised bonfires were taking place.

Two fixed penalty notices were handed out for illegally parked vehicles and a further six warnings were issued.

Rubbish dumped in the back streets was cleared up and graffiti was removed from various locations.