Leading independent paintmaker, HMG Paints is proud of its Manchester manufacturing heritage and has invested substantially in on-site riverside improvement and tree planting programmes, to improve the surrounding environment.

So it was delighted to become involved in a local 'clean up and paint your gate' initiative, staged recently in nearby Crumpsall, North Manchester. The event was organised by Groundwork Manchester, Salford & Trafford and the Manchester City Council Campaigns Team. It formed part of Groundwork's ongoing environmental regeneration work and linked with the council's Challenge Manchester 2005 '100 Days to a Clean City' campaign, which seeks to tackle anti-social behaviour and improve the physical environment by involving local people in a variety of voluntary activities.

Groundwork's Community Link Officer, Colette Fairbrother, approached HMG Paints, which has its headquarters in Collyhurst, to supply paint free of charge for the event. The company is always keen to support the local community and to stress the environmental credentials of paint, for preserving and protecting diminishing natural materials, so readily agreed to the request. It supplied a high build, gloss enamel in bronze green for the job, which has excellent coverage, durability and colour retention properties and should preserve and enhance the neighbourhood gates for years to come.

On the day, local residents joined forces with Groundwork and Council staff to paint their backyard gates, in preparation for transforming their newly gated cobbled alleyway into a community garden, complete with trees, planters and hanging baskets purchased with a grant of £5,000. It is part of a scheme to secure open urban spaces by installing lockable gates on alleyways and elsewhere, to prevent them being magnets for litter, vandalism and fly-tipping. The scheme is funded by the Home Office's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, which is also supporting the Challenge Manchester 100 Days initiative.

Apart from smartening up their gates, residents found the event a convivial occasion, in some cases creating an opportunity to talk to neighbours who had only been nodding acquaintances in the past.

"It certainly showed that community spirit is not dead. It's amazing what a lick of paint will do," says Colette Fairbrother. "Although we have overseen a number of such projects in East Manchester, this was the first of its kind in the north of the city. We're now hoping it will prompt residents in other areas to propose similar schemes, creating urban havens where everyone can relax and enjoy the surroundings."

Further enquiries to:
HMG Paints
Riverside Works
Collyhurst Road
Manchester
M40 7RU
Telephone 0161 205 7631
email sales@hmgpaint.com
..and to:
Groundwork Manchester Salford & Trafford Ltd
Phoenix House
61 Speer Street
Manchester
M1 1DF
Telephone 0161 873 7182