Chewing gum clean-up gets funding boost

Specialist equipment will be used to remove gum without chemicals

Efforts to clean up chewing gum from streets in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been boosted following a funding grant.

BCP Council has been awarded £27,000 for specialist gum-removing equipment.

Chewing gum will be removed at a number of locations in Bournemouth later this year, including Bournemouth Square, Old Christchurch Road, Commercial Road, Westover Road and Bournemouth Triangle.

The council said it would "target the areas that need it most”.

The grant is from the national Chewing Gum Task Force, administered by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

The task force is funded by major gum manufacturers including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle, who have contributed £10m spread over five years.

It means the specialist cleaning equipment can be used to remove gum stuck to streets and footpaths without the need for chemicals.

Councillor Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy, said: "Local businesses and residents have told us they want the council to remove unsightly chewing gum litter, so it is great we can now do something about it by utilising this grant.

“However, we ask residents to help by discarding their chewing gum in the bin, rather than discarding it on our street."