Bubble bursts on a sticky problem

AN innovative campaign to combat chewing-gum litter in Oldham has been hailed a success.

There has been a 74 per cent reduction in gum deposited at hotspots since the crackdown on the sticky problem.

Oldham Council was one of 11 local authorities nationwide selected to take part in a campaign with the Chewing Gum Action Group (CGAG) targeting locations where gum chewers are most likely to drop litter.

It ran throughout August and produced a number of eye-catching activities — including Oldham Youth Council members cordoning off a town centre area and setting up a spoof environmental crime scene to raise awareness of the menace.

A special trailer van also toured the borough emblazoned with the message “Bin your gum or it could cost you £80” and more than 500 residents signed a pledge not to throw gum on the floor.

The council’s Street Scene team monitored the ten hotspot locations before, during and after the campaign and the results now show the 74 per cent reduction at these sites.

Councillor Rod Blyth, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: “Chewing gum litter can quickly make an area unsightly for a long time.

“Removing gum is an extremely time-consuming and labour-intensive job that costs local taxpayers around £28,000 a year.

“Litter enforcement staff have the power to issue £80 fixed penalties to anyone who is caught caught dropping gum.

“This campaign was about preventing the gum being dropped through a combination of education and enforcement activity and the evidence suggests that it has already made more people stop and think before littering the streets.”