In late 2017, Copeland Borough Council launched the Pride of Place campaign to help combat fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling.

The campaign also transformed the borough’s town centres through the Pride of Place Town Centre Regeneration Scheme.

Over the past two years the campaign has been hailed an increasing success with achievements including:

  • A 30 per cent reduction in reports of fly tipping across the borough, bucking trends across the county which had seen an increase of more than 37 per cent on average during the same period.
  • In line with the drop in number of reports received, the volume of fly-tipped waste the council collected decreased by more than 50 per cent.
  • The tonnage collected by Copeland Council’s street-cleaning team showed a clear reduction in littering reducing by more than 25 per cent.
  • More than £750,000 was invested in improving the appearance of commercial premises across the borough, transforming 113 buildings in Copeland’s towns, villages and rural areas. More than 50 per cent was invested by the business owners themselves.
  • Public Space Protection Orders were introduced in areas renowned for dog disorder and low-level anti-social behaviour. These orders gave our enforcement officers and the police greater powers to issue fines in green spaces.
  • More than 50 partners including local employers, police, third-sector organisations, town and parish councils, sports clubs and schools pledged their support to the campaign, alongside local MP Trudy Harrison.

The Whitehaven News has supported the campaign throughout, providing a platform to share messages and highlight the work of the council, residents, volunteers and partners.