Sticking to promises on gum litter grime

1:59pm Friday 12th September 2008

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A CAMPAIGN to cut the number of people who spit their chewing gum onto pavements and roads has been launched by Test Valley Borough Council.

Last year's Chewing Gum Awareness month saw a big reduction in the amount of gum dropped on the borough's streets.

On Monday two demonstrations aimed at showing people the effect of gum being left on pavements were set up in Andover High Street.

A grime scene' - where each piece of gum was marked with a ticket - aimed at showing people that dropping it was a fineable offence; while each blob of gum in an area of pavement near the Guildhall was highlighted and circled with chalk.

A team of operators took 15 days to remove gum from Andover's streets in 2006, costing taxpayers £13,500.

Cllr Peter Boulton, portfolio holder for environment and health, said: "The council's commitment to reducing gum litter has been recognised nationally.

"It was one of 15 local authorities across England to receive funding from the Chewing Gum Action Group to support a campaign. Littered gum is unsightly, messy and costly to remove We hope this campaign will encourage people to think before they drop their gum."