A COUNCIL rubbish and recycling blitz will move into Barton this month.

The Oxford estate is the latest target of the local authority’s campaign to get the city looking spotless.

Cleaner Greener Oxford, supported by the Oxford Mail, was launched in 2009 and since then has worked to clean up Blackbird Leys, East Oxford and Jericho.

And this month will see a big push in making Barton look its best.

Council officers were encouraging residents to clear up dog mess once the campaign got underway yesterday.

The city council’s dog warden will be giving a talk on responsible dog ownership to the local primary school, while enforcement officers will be inspecting the community to look for problems with garden waste at people’s homes.

During the campaign, advice will also be given on how to reduce waste and increase recycling rates.

Larger recycling bins and food caddies will be provided where necessary. A street sweeper was also sent to Bayards Hill Primary School as part of the awareness campaign.

Barton residents already recycle 42 per cent of their waste but the city council is keen to double it.

The council’s executive member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford John Tanner said: “The Cleaner, Greener campaign has begun to make Oxford, especially the city centre, look a lot tidier.

“But there are still too many people dropping litter, letting their dogs foul the footpath and not recycling as much as they could.

“I know Barton residents will embrace this campaign to clear up their area and will welcome the extra help from the city council.

“My ambition is to make Barton one of the cleanest and greenest neighbourhoods in Oxford.”

The community response team will be in Barton between 10am and noon on Tuesdays and 6.45pm and 9.45pm on Thursdays to carry out patrols.

Barton and Sandhills city councillor Mike Rowley said: “I hope that the area will see a great improvement following the campaign and that the residents fully support it.”