CATHERINE Fookes, MP for Monmouthshire, recently joined volunteers from Keep Abergavenny Tidy and Councillor Su McConnell for a community litter pick in Croesonen ward.

The issue was first highlighted during one of Catherine’s regular door-knocking sessions, when a resident pointed out that litter had been accumulating in the area the local part and surrounding alleyways and that a bin had been removed.

Following the conversation, Catherine joined the volunteer group and local councillors to help clear the area.

Catherine Fookes MP, said: “I spend a lot of time speaking toresidents on the doorstep, and when someone mentioned the litter building up here, I wanted to come back snd help do something about it.

We picked up a large number of plastic water bottles and the other litter, which will now be recycled.

Volunteer groups like Keep Abergavenny Tidy do an incredible job looking after our communities, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gives up their time to make Abergavenny an even better place to live.

I’m looking forward to getting involved in more community clean-ups across Monmouthshire over the coming months.”

Keep Abergavenny Tidy was first formed in 2010 and is run entirely by volunteers. As of March last year, the group had collected a total of 4,705 bags of litter through individual and monthly litter picks.

Cllr Su McConnel said:

“I know litter on our streets can make our neighbourhoods feel neglected, which is why I join the fantastic Keep Abergavenny Tidy group in my ward whenever I can. Small litter picks like this make a big difference.”

Catherine said she will continue working with residents, community groups and local councillors to tackle issues raised on the doorstep and support future litter-picking events across Monmouthshire.

Residents interested in getting involved with Keep Abergavenny Tidy can find out more by visiting the group’s Facebook page.