Big hearted litter picker Thomas is a five year-old Redditch record breaker - The Redditch Standard

Big hearted litter picker Thomas is a five year-old Redditch record breaker

Redditch Editorial 20th Jul, 2019   0

A FIVE-year-old boy has broken the record for being the youngest person to ever litter pick for Redditch Borough Council.

Webheath Academy pupil Thomas Spencer, along with his dad James, ‘adopted’ Plymouth Road as their area to keep tidy.

“It all started after I told a friend of mine, who works at the council, that my son had managed to pick up six bags of litter near our home,” said James.

“My friend said I could ‘adopt’ the area by getting in touch with the council, and so we did.”




The authority sent out two litter grabbers, bags, high visibility jackets and guidelines on how to collect rubbish safely.

“Thomas loves helping out and he’s very aware of the need to look after the environment,” said James.


“We were both just so fed up with people dropping litter at the top of Plymouth Road, especially during peak school times.”

Now the pair are eager to make others aware that they too can help make Redditch a nicer place to live.

“People just need to change their mindset,” said James, “Rather than just thinking ‘it doesn’t matter the council will sort it’, we can help by doing our bit too.

“Even if it just means maintaining your trees or keeping your bushes tidier, it makes for a better environment.”

Councillor Brandon Clayton, whose portfolio covers environmental services, said: “Residents have been reacting in a really positive way to the scheme.

“We’ve had more than 69 requests since its launch in March.

“The whole council sends thanks to Thomas – and his dad James – for their hard work to keep Plymouth Road clean and looking good.”

Information on adopting an area is available on the council website at www.redditchbc.gov.uk/.

The council will send out all the equipment needed and will even collect the rubbish bags if residents can’t fit them into their black bins.

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