Volunteers get their brushes out for the community in Shrewsbury
A team of volunteers have got their brushes out and helped tidy up an underpass in Shrewsbury.
Police had previously received numerous phone calls from local residents about illegal activity taking place at the underpass in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury.
With overgrown shrubs and the lack of light at night, many local residents wanted something to be done about it.
Team Shrewsbury, made up of various partners such as West Mercia Police, Shropshire County Council and Safer Shrewsbury, was launched in 2014 with the aim of ‘Making Shrewsbury a better place to live, work and play’ and were brought in to try and solve problems like this.
Members from Team Shrewsbury contacted Shrewsbury College to ask for volunteers to paint the Monkmoor Underpass - to brighten it up and help deter criminal activity. The Public Uniformed Services students from Shrewsbury College were keen to get involved and help the local community with this project.
Students started work at 9.30am yesterday and the first coat was finished by midday. With the 28 strong team of dedicated painters, the whole underpass was completed by 3.45pm the same day.
“It’s brilliant to work in partnership with Shrewsbury College on such an important community project which will benefit the whole community on both sides of the underpass,” commented Steve Cunningham – Senior Community Enablement Officer from Shropshire County Council.
Abby Hotchkiss – 17, currently studying Level 3 Public Uniformed Services knew how much this project would help: “I live locally and have seen how bad the underpass has been recently. To be able to help my community by repainting and making the underpass better for people to walk through is really rewarding.”
“I would like to thank the students here from Shrewsbury College for the time and effort they have put into today, their efforts have already made an impact, with local residents commenting on their delight with the project” added Steve.
