IT'S not just Messenger that is celebrating its birthday this week - the SAM 'Grotspots' campaign is also marking its first anniversary.

Trafford's top free newspaper launched the drive to clean up the grimiest places in town exactly a year ago this week.

Trafford Council quickly came on board with the iunitiative, and since then we have worked hand in hand with the town hall on the campaign.

Many litter strewn areas have been spruced up over the months - but any project that simply clears up while litterbugs continue to mess up the area can never do more than scratch the surface of the problem.

So perhaps the main aim of Grotspots must now be to change people - because clearly a campaign like this is only needed in the first place because of inconsiderate litter louts.

As Trafford's council leader Cllr David Acton says: "The Grotspots campaign is a very good example of a local authority working with the newspaper in trying to deal with issues which affect people's lives.

" We have had quite a lot of success in dealing with grotspots and tidying them up and I would hope this type of partnership will continue.

"But we also need to change attitudes. When someone throws litter, or dumps a sack of rubbish, it affects other people's lives. We must make them conscious about their own responsibilities when it comes to the environment."

Among the ambitious initiatives kick-started by Grotspots in the last year - which could benefit the area for years to come - are plans to restore the neglected historic route at Brooks Drive in Timperley into a beautiful pathway.

Plans for the change are now being put together by a committee formed locally and it is hoped a landfill tax grant will be awarded to finance the operation.

Similarly, just a few weeks ago, a neglected former picnic and play area was highlighted in Grotspots and now the spot - where Baguley Brook crosses the Bridgewater Canal - could be upgraded.

WHAT do you think? Where does the SAM Grotspots campaign go from here?

We can carry on highlighting neglected and abused corners of the borough and trying to get them tidied, in association with Trafford council, but is that enough?

Some places put back into shape have already been abused again - so how can we make more people take notice? Write with your views to Philip Fleming, Readers' Write, Messenger Newspapers, Brindley House, 25 Ashton Lane, Sale M33 6TP.

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