A council is tackling the problem of chewing gum embedded on the borough’s streets.

Funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force has enabled Pendle Council's operational services department to buy equipment to remove gum from public places and erect targeted signage to encourage people to bin their gum. 

Initially, the cleansing will take place in selected heavily used pedestrian areas in Nelson, Colne and Barrowford.

Staff from the council’s operational services team will carry out a deep clean of the area and then put up signs on nearby litter bins and railings as a constant reminder for people not to litter.

On completion of the cleansing, the areas will be monitored every three months to see if the signage has been effective and encouraged people to bin their gum rather than throw it on the floor.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, leader of Pendle Council, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so this support from the Chewing Gum Task Force is very welcome.

“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind people that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin."

The Chewing Gum Task Force brings together some of the UK’s major chewing gum producers in a partnership to remove gum litter from UK streets and prevent future littering.

The scheme, administered by Keep Britain Tidy, sees the chewing gum firms invest up to £10 million over five years to achieve two objectives - cleaning up historic gum staining and changing behaviour so that more people bin their gum.

David Walker, Pendle Council's assistant director of operational services, said: “We made two successful bids to Keep Britain Tidy for funding to support our street cleansing teams tackling the blight of chewing gum staining.

“This year we were awarded £25,000, which has allowed us to buy the gum removal equipment that we will be able to use for several years.

“We have also been supplied with a bespoke prevention package, including targeted behaviour change signage and advice to encourage people to bin their gum, which we are using in the areas as we clean them.

“In year one we were granted £20,000, which allowed us to clean the areas surrounding the train station, bus station and taxi rank in Nelson and the bus station in Colne.

“These areas were monitored after cleaning and it was found gum littering had reduced.”

Councillor Zafar Ali, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, added: “It is great that our staff are looking at innovative ways to tackle environmental issues by seeking external funding.

“We need to change the behaviour of people who are disposing of their gum irresponsibly.

“We are hoping to do this with the continual reminders, signage and education running alongside the clean up operations, in a bid to stop the problem from arising in the first place.”