SHOPPERS could soon find themselves in a sticky situation if plans to axe a chewing gum removal programme are given the go-ahead.

Preston Borough Council's Environment committee is being asked to sanction various cuts to the services provided by the environmental health department at a meeting today (Thursday).

Among the proposals is a plan to axe the current hot-wash cleaning system which is deployed on Preston's streets to remove thousands of pieces of gum which have been ground into the pavement.

Traders claim that the sight of used chewing gum clinging to the pavement spoils the look of the town centre, adding that the council is only just managing to contain the problem with the current cleaning method.

Under the proposed plan, the service, which costs £5,000 a year, will be halted with no provisions for an alternative system.

Robert Hilton-Jones, owners of Stuart's for Leather, fears Preston's streets will become a chewing gum mountain if the problem is allowed to fester.

He said: "This is bad news for traders. We'll end up knee-deep in chewed gum which is a disgusting thought.

"We are trying our hardest to attract people to the town centre and I don't think cutting vital cleaning services is the way to do it.

"It is hard enough at the moment to keep the town in a fit state and by allowing anti-social habits like this to go untreated is something all the traders are opposed to.

"I am disappointed that the council thinks we can live the chewing-gum encrusted streets."

A council spokesman said that cuts had to be made somewhere, and added: "Unfortunately, we have been unable to identify cuts in the cleansing contract as quickly as we had hoped.

"By discontinuing the service, we will save in the region of £5,000 a year.

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