Residents in Mullacreevie have welcomed a voluntary clean-up of paths beside pensioners’ homes after a family-run Armagh business stepped in to tackle an area described as an eyesore and a danger.
David Warner, owner of Vision Cleaning and Maintenance Service, carried out the work without charge after the Warner family approached West Armagh Consortium and offered their services to the local community. The work was completed before winter, when weeds, moss and slippery surfaces had made the back paths particularly difficult and dangerous to access.
Paths beside pensioners’ homes cleared
West Armagh Consortium said the area beside the pensioners’ bungalows was selected as the first recipient of Vision Cleaning’s offer. The consortium acts as an umbrella community group, putting the offer to its members before Mullacreevie was chosen.
Stephen Fields, from West Armagh Consortium, said the group had met David Warner’s son, Christopher, several weeks earlier. The family then offered to undertake monthly, regular outdoor maintenance jobs for the local community.
“They have offered to carry out monthly regular outside maintenance jobs for the local community and wondered if we could help,”
Mr Fields said the local community group had repeatedly argued that the area had been badly neglected. Residents themselves were unable to keep up with maintaining the paths, which could become overgrown with weeds and moss.
That deterioration created a particular risk in slippery winter conditions. Residents said they were delighted to see the work completed before winter, as using the back paths had become extremely dangerous.
Community group praises voluntary work
Catherine Mary Hutton, of Mullacreevie Development Association, praised Vision Cleaning for going beyond what was expected. She said the work would improve safety for residents, particularly older people living in the community.
“The work will go a long way to improving the safety of residents, particularly the older members of the Mullacreevie community.”
Ms Hutton also welcomed the family’s community-minded approach and said the association both welcomed and applauded their contribution.
“We are particularly mindful of Vision Cleaning’s sense of community here and both welcome and applaud them for it.”
The West Armagh Consortium commended David and Christopher for completing what it described as a job very well done. The group said it was looking forward to continuing its association with the family.
Monthly maintenance offer
The Mullacreevie clean-up is the first project arising from Vision Cleaning’s offer to provide regular outdoor maintenance for local communities. The source report says the family-run business volunteered its services because it wanted to give something back to the community.
For residents beside the cleared paths, the immediate result is safer access ahead of the winter months. The consortium and Mullacreevie Development Association have both highlighted the practical benefit of removing the overgrowth and moss from routes used by older residents.