3Bs Association
The 3Bs (bikes, blades and boards) were formed during 2001 because the Falkirk area had no proper skate park, forcing those interested take to the streets in shopping centres and housing estates. It has been young people who have led this project from the outset, with voluntary help from a small group of adults.
To start, the group drummed up support for their proposal of a skatepark in Falkirk town centre, culminating in a petition with hundreds of names being given to the council. After much consideration, a site at Bellsmeadow was chosen for the skatepark on account that it was:
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central location with easy access and shops within walking distance
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the site would not be in an area which could become territorial
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the park would be able to blend in with the surrounding area
A full consultation with the residents surrounding the site was carried out as an act of good practice. Flyers were posted through the doors and where possible the young people spoke to the residents.
The group started raising money through various fundraising events such as sponsored walks, a bottle stall and soak the pests. The project moved a stage further in April 2003 through a £25,000 grant awarded by Falkirk Environmental Trust. It had taken two years to secure this first grant, but other funding soon followed from organisations such as Sports Scotland and Falkirk Council. BP provided the group with a digital camera, which allowed them to document the construction of the park and set up a website with help from Central Scotland Police, who are also involved from a community safety point of view.
The skatepark was officially opened on Friday 10 September 2004. Since then, the group have continually looked to improve the site and its facilities, with new lighting columns, CCTV and benches recently installed.
The group have also been in consultation with Falkirk Council about the siting of 6 new litter bins around the park, and are always looking at ways to improve the cleanliness of the park and its surroundings. Recently, some of the group have carried out a litter pick around the park and in the neighbouring industrial estate. Unfortunately, the park is experiencing some problems of vandalism and littering at present, but everyone involved is doing their best to combat this.
Polmont Community Council Clean Up
In spring 1999, Polmont Community Council held its first village clean up in conjunction with the Keep Scotland Beautiful ‘National Spring Clean’ campaign. 120 volunteers of all ages turned out to litter pick the streets, parks, woodlands and other green spaces throughout the village before they returned to the Community Centre for refreshments, a free raffle and a general get together. The event was supported by Falkirk Council, who removed all the bags of litter collected, Polmont’s community policemen, youth groups, village associations and by local shops and businesses who all helped make it a successful and enjoyable day.
Now in its eighth year, the Polmont Clean Up Day has become an annual event, with around 140 people from all over the village turning out each year to lend a hand. Over the years we have built up a strong network of support and work closely with Falkirk Council’s Litter Strategy Team, as well as others including Central Scotland Forests Trust, Falkirk Environment Trust, Action Recycle, Avondale Ltd and the Falkirk Council Countryside Rangers. We have tremendous support from shops and businesses in the area, which are always very generous with donations for refreshments and raffle prizes. The local schools have also made a considerable contribution through various activities, form poster competitions to school ground clean ups, in preparation for the event and on the day. It is this teamwork and support which has made our clean up day a success year after year, and makes it easier to organise.
Picking up litter is an activity in which people of all ages can take part in, with young people and adults all working together. It is also a great opportunity to strengthen and maintain community ties by enabling people to care for their local environment and make a difference. The clean up day is always a fun event, with the festivities afterwards giving people a chance to meet up, chat and enjoy themselves. We feel that litter picking is an ordinary, but very rewarding, thing to do. There is always a real sense of achievement after the event, seeing how clean the village is.
There are always uncertainties when organising the clean up day - will we raise enough funding / donations, what will the weather be like, will anyone turn up – but it is important not to get too disheartened over such challenges. Just organise your event and make as much of a difference as possible.
It is important to have widespread awareness of your event – make sure everyone knows what’s going on. Use the local media, display posters in shops, libraries etc and try to speak to people face-to-face. Every year we deliver flyers advertising the clean ups to every household in the village. This ensures that everyone is aware of the clean up and gives us the opportunity to talk to people about it at the same time.
Having been running for a long time, we really do notice the difference the clean up day makes. There are not so many bulky items dumped around the village and there are fewer badly littered areas. Importantly, the day also gives a good community focus, bringing the people from the village together, and we look forward to many more years of making a difference in and around Polmont.
Shirley Johnson
Deputy Chairperson / Clean Up Co-ordinator
Polmont Community Council