Bedford Borough Council has been awarded nearly £30,000 to help clean chewing gum from pavements in the town centre, as part of a nationwide campaign tackling the stubborn and unsightly form of litter.
The borough is one of 52 councils selected to receive funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force, a national initiative supported by major gum manufacturers including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle.
The grant will support a targeted clean-up and public awareness campaign along Mill Street, Silver Street, and Midland Road (up to River Street), beginning in August and running until the end of October.
Chewing gum is a costly problem for local authorities, with an estimated £7 million spent annually on removal and 77% of England’s streets showing signs of gum litter.
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The Chewing Gum Task Force, created by Defra and managed by Keep Britain Tidy, is investing up to £10 million over five years to support long-term behaviour change and improved street cleanliness.
Bedford’s project will fund consumables for specialist gum-cleaning equipment and allow the council to bring in additional street cleansing operatives.
The work will also be supported by the national “Keep it, Bin it” campaign, which aims to encourage people to dispose of their gum properly.
Usightly
Cllr Nicola Gribble (Renhold & Ravensden/Independent), Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “We know how frustrating gum on pavements can be for residents and businesses.
“It’s unsightly, hard to remove, and gives the wrong impression of our wonderful town.
“This funding, from the companies who make chewing gum, means we can give these sites in Bedford town centre a fresh start and encourage everyone to bin their gum, not drop it.
“Together, we can make Bedford town centre an even better place to live, work, and visit.”
The council is also reminding the public that dropping gum is classed as littering and can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice of £150, or a fine of up to £2,500 if prosecuted.
Previous Task Force-funded projects have seen up to an 80% reduction in gum litter in just two months, as part of a wider government strategy to support high street regeneration and civic pride.
More information is available at bedford.gov.uk/litter, with further campaign details available from Keep Britain Tidy and official government pages.
