The dropping of chewing gum on pavements is an antisocial activity that not only looks unsightly but is incredibly expensive and time consuming for local authorities to remove.
Gosport has, in the past, spent a great deal of money on removing gum from the pedestrianised High Street. It has also looked at several ways of discouraging people from dropping their gum in the streets, including distributing pouches in which to put used chewing gum and cigarette ends and installing ‘gummy bins’ on lampposts.
But now, thanks to funding secured from the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Council aims to begin a new public awareness campaign.
Gosport was one of just a handful of authorities lucky enough to be selected from more than 40 who applied for the Defra grant funding. The aim of the campaign is to tackle the irresponsible disposal of chewing gum, especially in the town’s busy High Street shopping area. “We hope to change the public’s behaviour and educate them on the correct and responsible way to dispose of their gum as opposed to their just dropping it on the pavement to stick to our shoes and tread everywhere,” said Jenny Marlow, Contracts Officer for Gosport Borough Council.
“The awareness campaign will run during the busy holiday period of August and September and, by using our new campaign visuals and poster adverts, as well as other wider campaign activities, we hope to make a serious dent in the gum littering figures.”
“When operating this campaign in other areas Defra say a reduction of up to 72% in chewing gum litter has been achieved – let’s hope Gosport can do even better,” added Jenny.
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