COMMUNITY groups came together to discuss the future of the town’s thriving anti-litter campaign at Evesham Town Hall.
Town and district councillors and officers, businesses, organisations, services and the general public attended the event last Thursday (June 20).
Local schools and colleges, supermarkets and fast food outlets, the police, housing associations and other local groups were also represented.
Coun Julie Tucker spoke about the achievements and future aims of the campaign after deputy Mayor of Evesham, Coun Sue Amor, opened proceedings.
Following a presentation from former Observer editor Ian Dipple on the role of Wychavon District Council in relation to the group, Wychavon Coun Emma Stokes spoke passionately about the town where she lives.
Rob Rich spoke about how enforcement powers, operated by Wychavon, will play a part before Iain Gulland, chief executive officer of Zero Waste Scotland, the advisory body to the Scottish Government on Waste Management, discussed the future of tackling litter.
The campaign thus far has focused on litter picking and growing public awareness, with good success.
It now moves to develop the behavioural message, ‘Just Bin It’, an attempt to get more people to use bins and stop dropping litter in its various forms.
Bruce Taylor, from Evesham Anti Litter Group, said: “In the background our work on enforcement has started but we will focus on a ‘Year of Education’, with schools, business and the general public.
“A big message on the night was that we must all contribute to the reporting of littering and the data collection by Wychavon District Council. We will publicise how to do that in our future communications, but for now please report anything that you come across.”
Mr Taylor added: “The campaign will perhaps last another two years, after which it should rightly be handed back to the authority, Wychavon District Council, supported by Evesham Town Council.
“Success will be the reduction of littering and the cost of littering. This can work, if we succeed in securing the right resources now and in the long term.
“This should be achieved at a lower cost than present, £1.5million per annum, again if we can work smarter and gain the support of townspeople for improved littering behaviour.
“For all this to work requires support and it is clear we have support.”
