Chewing gum scourge comes unstuck with new kit

Wolverhampton was one of 52 councils that applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force for funding to remove gum

Hotspots for discarded chewing gum are to be tackled in Wolverhampton with two new specialist removal machines.

Work on the stubborn, sticky pest has started on Lichfield Street, with Westbury Street, Queen Street and Dudley Street in the city centre to follow, the authority said.

It was one of 52 councils across the country that applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force for funding to remove gum, and was given £20,155 towards that end.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal said "thoughtlessly discarded gum" was unpleasant to see and very difficult to remove, but the funding would help with clean-up efforts.

Signage will also appear in shops to encourage people to bin their gum responsibly.

"I would make a real plea to anyone who enjoys chewing gum to think before they discard it," Gakhal said.

"Please find a bin or wrap it up and take it home. Make sure our city's streets and spaces stay clean and welcoming for residents and visitors alike."

The task force was established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy with £10m in funding from gum manufacturers, including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle.

Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is about £7m, the council says.