Gwynedd buys extra gum-cleaning machine with £26,752 grant

Gwynedd has bought an additional specialist steam-cleaning machine to remove discarded chewing gum from its streets and pavements, using a £26,752 grant. The council says its local tidy-up teams have already begun a programme of cleaning work.

How to request a visit

Residents who want one of the Timau Tacluso Ardal Ni teams to visit their community should speak to their local county councillor. The teams work throughout Gwynedd on small environmental improvements, rather than serving only the main town centres.

The council’s announcement, published on 30 September, does not list the streets to be cleaned or give a timetable for individual communities. A request to a councillor is therefore a way to raise a location for attention, rather than a guarantee of a visit on a particular date.

A fourth year of funding

The money comes from the Chewing Gum Task Force, which was established by Defra and is managed by Keep Britain Tidy. This is the fourth year Gwynedd has secured funding through the scheme.

June Jones, the council’s cabinet member responsible for highways, said chewing-gum litter was a recurring concern raised by residents. Alongside the cleaning work, the council is asking people to dispose of gum responsibly to prevent fresh stains.