Civic Pride call for chewing gum ban

Apr 29 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

Chewing gum ban call

DUMFRIES Civic Pride is calling on a UK-wide ban on chewing gum.

Members of the group which helps to tidy the town centre, are growing increasingly frustrated with the task of cleaning gum from the streets.

And they are proposing a ban on the sale of chewing gum in shops throughout the region – with the aim of the rest of the UK following suit.

The group has written to local MPs asking for their support.

Civic Pride member Morris Service believes a solution to the sticky problem lies with the criminalisation of the dropping of chewing gum — along similar lines to Singapore.

He told the Standard: “The majority dispose of chewing gum responsibly but there were still those who left their discarded gum on the street, benches or on the back of seats on public transport.”

He added: “While this seems a far reaching proposal, it comes with an increasing frustration at the impossible task of cleaning the sheer amount of chewing gum accumulating on our streets and pavements.

“Despite the efforts of Dumfries and Galloway Council employing contractors to remove chewing gum from parts of Dumfries town centre, at considerable expense, the problem has only been temporarily dealt with.”

The council has spent more than £1million on a major repaving project of Friars Vennel in Dumfries, which according to Mr Service is becoming littered with gum already.

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown believes local retailers should be encouraged to stock biodegradable gum which hit the UK shelves last month.

He told the Standard: “I know gum stained pavements in Dumfries are a massive source of frustration for proud Doonhamers. But equally I know it is only the small minority who have no respect who throw their gum on the floor for someone else to come along and unknowingly tread it into the pavement.

“Last month an organic, biodegradable gum hit the shelves of supermarkets in the UK. So an alternative to banning gum – which could be difficult to enforce – could be to encourage local retailers to stock this natural substitute which does not stick to clothing or pavements.”

The council recently spent £10,000 removing gum from the town centre.