Tidy Our Town is the Chronicle & Echo's latest campaign, launched in collaboration with the Northants Litter Wombles in February 2024. Through weekly stories, we hope to raise awareness of the littering and fly tipping issues across the town - and shine a light on the positive work of those fighting against it.

Tidy Our Town: What has our campaign with the Northants Litter Wombles achieved in 2024?

We are proud to have collaborated with the Northants Litter Wombles on our ongoing ‘Tidy Our Town’ campaign – and this is only the beginning. As 2025 is on the horizon, this is a great opportunity to see what our town has achieved in minimising the prominent issue of littering and fly tipping over the past year.
Read More →
Northampton Chronicle and Echo •

Tidy Our Town: West Northants Labour leader believes collaboration is key in tackling littering and fly tipping

The leader of the West Northants Labour Group believes collaboration is key in tackling the issue of littering and fly tipping across the county, and she is keen to see more of it moving forward. Councillor Wendy Randall, who is the Labour representative for Daventry West, is the latest to speak to the Chronicle & Echo as part of the Tidy Our Town campaign.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Labour councillor explains how ‘community skip scheme’ could benefit West Northamptonshire

A Labour councillor has explained how a ‘community skip scheme’ could benefit West Northamptonshire and its ongoing issue with littering and fly tipping. This scheme was among a number of suggestions made in the West Northamptonshire Labour Party’s budget amendments on February 20, all of which were voted against at the council meeting.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Here are West Northamptonshire Council’s plans to tackle the blight of littering and fly tipping

Here are West Northamptonshire Council’s plans to tackle the blight of littering and fly tipping, shared with this newspaper by deputy leader Councillor Matt Golby. In the first part of his interview, the cabinet member for adult care, public health and regulatory services shared that he is equally “sick and fed up” of the ongoing issue as the public.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Council deputy leader says he is equally ‘sick and fed up’ of littering and fly tipping

In the latest installment of the Tidy Our Town campaign, West Northamptonshire Council deputy leader Councillor Matt Golby spoke to the Chronicle & Echo. Cllr Golby, who is also the cabinet member for adult care, public health and regulatory services, repeatedly stressed that he and the council are equally “sick and fed up” of the blight of littering and fly tipping.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: More than 35,000 purple bags filled by Northants Litter Wombles in the past 12 months

More than 35,000 purple bags have been filled with rubbish by the Northants Litter Wombles over the past 12 months, since the launch of the Tidy Our Town campaign in February 2024. Group founder Nicola Elliott’s litter picking journey began a year before the ‘purple army’ was formed, when she set up her own village group where she lives in West Haddon.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: ‘Gamechanger’ machine which incentivises recycling to be placed at University of Northampton

A machine which incentivises recycling in return for monetary gain, which could be a “gamechanger” for the town, is preparing to be placed at the University of Northampton. The Northants Litter Wombles have worked hard to see the installation of the county’s first ‘Deposit Return Scheme’ machine, in collaboration with installer Trovr and the University.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Long-standing resident of four decades ‘ashamed’ of rubbish in ‘every nook and cranny’

A long-standing resident, who has lived on her street for more than four decades, is “ashamed” that there is “rubbish in every nook and cranny” – and this has stopped her inviting loved ones to her home. Helene Kluger-Langer, who has lived in Vernon Walk for more than 40 years, reached out to the Chronicle & Echo about the “intolerable and unacceptable” state of her area.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Litter Womble reflects on ‘really positive developments’ one year on from campaign launch

A Northants Litter Womble has reflected on the “really positive developments” over the past year since the launch of the Tidy Our Town campaign. It was in February 2024 when the Chronicle & Echo began collaborating with the Northants Litter Wombles – and 41 stories have since been published in the hope of tackling the issue of littering and fly tipping.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Let’s take a look at the amazing volunteer work happening in the north of the county

Let’s take a look at the amazing work being done by dedicated volunteers to tackle the blight of littering and fly tipping in the north of the county. Though the Tidy Our Town campaign is focused on what is being done in Northampton, the work of the Northants Litter Wombles spans the entire county – and this also deserves to be highlighted.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Here’s how incentivising recycling for money in return could be a ‘gamechanger’ for Northampton

Here is how incentivising recycling in return for monetary gain could be a “gamechanger” for Northampton in 2025 and beyond, as the town is set to be ahead of the curve. The Northants Litter Wombles are working hard to see the installation of Northampton’s first ‘Deposit Return Scheme’ machine, in collaboration with installer Trovr.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Admirable volunteers cleared almost 150 bags of litter from ‘health hazard’ abandoned campsites

A group of admirable volunteers cleared almost 150 bags of litter from two abandoned campsites in Northampton at the end of 2024, which have been described as “health hazards”. The recent group picks were organised by Roman Turek, who has been an avid picker for more than three years after he decided to combine his passion for the environment with his love for going on walks.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Labour candidate hosts Santa litter picks to spread positive messages ahead of 2025 local elections

The Labour Party candidate, who has been selected to run for the Kingsley and Semilong ward in the 2025 local elections, hosted two Santa litter picks to spread positive messages in the run up to Christmas. Farzana Aldridge is hoping to be successful in next May’s West Northamptonshire Council local elections, and has immersed herself in the issue of littering and fly tipping among the community.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Passionate volunteer reflects on what a year it has been for the Northants Litter Wombles

A dedicated Northants Litter Womble has reflected on what a year it has been for the volunteer group, which is now approaching 110,000 purple bags filled with rubbish. Committee member Mark Watson has been a constant voice for the 4,500 members of the ‘purple army’ – and the group has collaborated with the Chronicle & Echo on the Tidy Our Town campaign since February.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: ‘Seeing a horrendous fly tip makes it feel like Northampton has taken 10 steps back’

The focus of Tidy Our Town this week is a horrendous fly tip in an area already renowned for its issue with littering – which makes it feel like Northampton takes two steps forward and 10 steps back. Concerned resident Viktorija Bahvalova reached out to this newspaper about a fly tip she noticed in Semilong, on a very visible area of the grass on the main Barrack Road.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Abandoned trolleys slammed as ‘extremely frustrating’ as Northants Litter Womble speaks out

The issue of abandoned trolleys across the county has been slammed as “extremely frustrating” by a Northants Litter Womble who has spoken out as part of the Tidy Our Town campaign. There are around 30 abandoned Tesco trolleys in the Lumbertubs area at the moment and dedicated volunteer Clive Bacchus has even rescued some out of nearby waterways.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo •

Tidy Our Town: Two groups join forces for second litter pick to make positive difference to grotspot

Two groups have joined forces for a second litter pick to make a positive difference to an area of Northampton, previously described as in “desperate need”. Northants Litter Wombles partnered up with The University of the Third Age, better known as the u3a – which offers more than 100 groups across the town to give older individuals new experiences.
Load More Articles