Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
‘HOT & STICKY’ - forecast by Claude the Chewing Gum Cheetah!
Cheetahs are renowned for their ability to run fast – that is unless they are hampered by ground covered in thrown away chewing gum.
‘Claude the Chewing Gum Cheetah’ is the latest of the Streetscene animal gang to be introduced to the public.
His appearance is timely as the summer approaches, the temperatures rise and Herefordshire becomes an attraction for tourists and holidaymakers.
Chewing gum ‘splodges’ mar the pavements in all our towns and getting rid of them is very difficult and very expensive, as a specialist treatment has to be used.
To clean Hereford City centre earlier this year it cost almost £19,000! Over £2.00 per square metre! Treading in gum is also horrid and if it’s then walked inside it can also ruin carpets etc.
So who causes the problem?
Stephen Oates, Head of Highways and Transportation said, “It’s actually quite difficult to spot people dropping or spitting out chewed gum – and if we did we could issue fixed penalty fines there and then.
“When you look at the streets in the towns they are covered in these unsightly grey patches that seem to spring up from nowhere.
“Young people are probably the most to blame but that doesn’t exclude unthinking adults who just don’t care.”
Claude the Chewing Gum Cheetah’s message is “Gum is Ghastly” and he promotes ‘wrap it, bin it, don’t tread in it!’
Claude’s fellow campaigners and supporters will be out and about in Hereford High Town on Saturday, June 18, as part of the launch of the Herefordshire Walking Festival.
Face painters will be turning children into cheetahs, there will be fun competitions and a display of incredible facts and figures about chewing gum.
A walking Treasure Hunt with a super stuffed toy cheetah as the prize has also been organised thanks to the co-operation of many of the retailers in High Town.
So why not join in the fun, find out about the festival and see if you can spot Claude at the same time!
The Streetscene hotline is (01432) 261800 or e mail streets@herefordshire.gov.uk