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Street cleaners up for award
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| Members of the city council cleansing unit Michael Belcher, left, and Leo de Goris Jedrzejowski |
A crack team of street cleaners who keep Oxford's pathways clean of syringes, vomit and excrement have been nominated for a top award.
Oxford City Council's Area A town centre cleansing unit have been nominated for Team of the Year at the National Council Workers awards for their work cleaning up the effects of drug misuse and homelessness.
Michael Belcher and Leo de Goris Jedrzejowski beat off competition from 130 other nominations to secure a place alongside five other finalists with the winners to be decided by votes from members of the public.
The unit was nominated by Thames Valley Police for its work in cases, including the dismantling of Tent City', an illegal camp erected on the Thames towpath in Osney in July last year.
The group also cleaned up after drug use in Luther Street and Botley Road.
Mr de Goris Jedrzejowski, leader of the team, said: "We're delighted with the nomination. The team deserve this recognition because they work hard and some of the work can be pretty grim.
"We have to deal with excrement, dirty bedding, puddles of vomit and used syringes. When it's a public safety issue we move as quickly as we can to clean it up. Contracting hepatitis is the worst risk, but our chaps know what they're doing and want to stop any risk of infection for members of the public.
"At Tent City they had built a very solid encampment out of timber, but we had to take it down and clear up all the rubbish and refuse from the site.
"It is a tough job to do that. Even though they did not legally have a right to be there you are still taking away someone's home."
Chief executive Peter Sloman said "I think the residents of Oxford should be proud that we have a team that has been recognised nationally as providing a great service."
To vote for the team go to localgovernmentchannel.com/awards or text L'GATV 6 Oxford' to 80039.
The winners will be announced on July 3.
3:47pm Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: b b leys resident, oxford on 4:25pm Fri 9 May 08
I AM SURE THAT HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB BUT WHAT ABOUT SOME OTHER AREAS CLEANED UP AS WELL.WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO THE SAME SERVICE BUT IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU WOULDNT THINK SO BUT WELL DONE TO THEM ANYWAY.
I AM SURE THAT HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB BUT WHAT ABOUT SOME OTHER AREAS CLEANED UP AS WELL.WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO THE SAME SERVICE BUT IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU WOULDNT THINK SO BUT WELL DONE TO THEM ANYWAY.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 4:36pm Fri 9 May 08
Paying them to clean up after themselves is a bit rich.
Paying them to clean up after themselves is a bit rich.
Posted by: John, Cowley on 4:45pm Fri 9 May 08
Good Job! I often am amazed that how clean streets here are given the crowds around.
Good Job! I often am amazed that how clean streets here are given the crowds around.
Posted by: jenny, garsington on 4:57pm Fri 9 May 08
Mr Ison, I've come to the conclusion that your a miserable old fart who can't wait to put a miserable message on every positive story. Haven't you got anything better to do with your time. STUPID
Mr Ison, I've come to the conclusion that your a miserable old fart who can't wait to put a miserable message on every positive story. Haven't you got anything better to do with your time. STUPID
Posted by: yvonne on 5:03pm Fri 9 May 08
Well said Jenny, I agree with you whole heartedly!!
Well said Jenny, I agree with you whole heartedly!!
Posted by: yvonne on 5:05pm Fri 9 May 08
Good job fellas a job well done we in Oxford are proud of you.
Good job fellas a job well done we in Oxford are proud of you.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 5:25pm Fri 9 May 08
Today i read the town has 43 thousand inhabitants,whoever it is that has the plan has decided to enrish us with 45 thousand immigrants.
Questioning the sanity of such a sheme has been excluded from the debate.
Today i read the town has 43 thousand inhabitants,whoever it is that has the plan has decided to enrish us with 45 thousand immigrants.
Questioning the sanity of such a sheme has been excluded from the debate.
Posted by: jenny, garsington on 5:31pm Fri 9 May 08
See, nothing better to do!
See, nothing better to do!
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 5:37pm Fri 9 May 08
So who's plan is it?
Firstly taxation is needed,so that would be the bank of England.
Secondly you would need bricks and motar,that would be Property Speculators.
Thirdly you would need Immigrants,the Government.
Lastly you would need a clique of people with a near pathological hatred of the English,that would be all four of those groups.
So who's plan is it?
Firstly taxation is needed,so that would be the bank of England.
Secondly you would need bricks and motar,that would be Property Speculators.
Thirdly you would need Immigrants,the Government.
Lastly you would need a clique of people with a near pathological hatred of the English,that would be all four of those groups.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 5:42pm Fri 9 May 08
Belcher may be keen on his whipping boy but most will not have servants themselves.
Belcher may be keen on his whipping boy but most will not have servants themselves.
Posted by: jenny, garsington on 5:48pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]yvonne[/bold] wrote:
Good job fellas a job well done we in Oxford are proud of you.[/quote] Yes well done.
yvonne wrote:
Good job fellas a job well done we in Oxford are proud of you.
Yes well done.
Posted by: David, Headington on 7:21pm Fri 9 May 08
A wonderful job no doubt.
Please send them to Headington it is a s h i t e pit with take away meal packages, overflowing bins and general rubbish strewn throughout.
Perhaps standards could be regulated throughout Oxford rather than the "Favoured areas!"
Ms Fooks preferred areas perhaps?
A wonderful job no doubt.
Please send them to Headington it is a s h i t e pit with take away meal packages, overflowing bins and general rubbish strewn throughout.
Perhaps standards could be regulated throughout Oxford rather than the "Favoured areas!"
Ms Fooks preferred areas perhaps?
Posted by: OAP, oxford on 7:46pm Fri 9 May 08
WELL DONE LADS[bold]bold[/bold]
Posted by: Mags, East Oxford on 11:25pm Fri 9 May 08
I can see nothing wonderful about doing their job.
Anyway the job is not difficult, they just pick it up as they go along!
I can see nothing wonderful about doing their job.
Anyway the job is not difficult, they just pick it up as they go along!
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