TWO hundred thousand -
that is the number of chewing-
gum stains that litter the
streets of Winchester.
The staggering number of "unsightly"
marks prompted businesses to back
chewing gum removal as a priority for
the new £2m Business Improvement
District (BID).
Workmen with high-pressure hoses
and other equipment designed to blast
the sticky residue from the pavement
have been cleaning across the city all
week.
They are the latest in a succession of
highly visible impacts the BID, which
sees firms pay for extra services via a
surcharge on their rates, has been making
on the city streets. The BID is also
responsible for funding two new Police
Community Support Officers to patrol
the city centre to tackle crime.
PCSOs Gemma Keane and Daniel
Platt will spend 70 per cent of their
time on high visibility patrol in the
heart of the city and double the numbers
of support officers from two to
four.
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They are equipped with high specification
radios, linking them to every
PubWatch and ShopWatch business to
provide early warning about potential
criminals and antisocial behaviour.
Keith Wilson, of Winchester City
Centre Partnership, said: "Two hundred
thousand was our best estimate.
We picked typical areas on each street
across the BID area and measured a
square metre of it and took the number
of chewing gum marks and
worked out an average.
That gave us a rough but representative
figure. In certain areas it's a
real eyesore - outside certain
licensed premises and fast food venues
for instance.
"This was a popular part of the
business plan, coupled with cleaning
of all the pavements as well. Once we're
done then we can restore the pavements
to their natural lustre."
Here’s an idea. Fine people for spitting and discarding chewing gum and put a £5 a stick tax on gum to pay for the clean up. (TB is spreading and spitting helps it to do so…) The added benefits also include reducing the nauseating sight of gormless people chewing with their mouths open.
Here’s an idea. Fine people for spitting and discarding chewing gum and put a £5 a stick tax on gum to pay for the clean up. (TB is spreading and spitting helps it to do so…) The added benefits also include reducing the nauseating sight of gormless people chewing with their mouths open.
"..which sees firms pay for extra services via a surcharge on their rates..."
As usual, take the easy option and charge the innocent to cleasr up somebody elses mess.
Will never solve any issues whilst the criminals, and those causing the problems, are allowed to get away with it.
"..which sees firms pay for extra services via a surcharge on their rates..."
As usual, take the easy option and charge the innocent to cleasr up somebody elses mess.
Will never solve any issues whilst the criminals, and those causing the problems, are allowed to get away with it.
In other 'clean' countries, where there is more civic pride, it is an offence to disgard old chewing gum improperly. Shops that sell the gum have to pay extra Business Rates to pay for any gum that has to be removed from the pavements.
In other 'clean' countries, where there is more civic pride, it is an offence to disgard old chewing gum improperly. Shops that sell the gum have to pay extra Business Rates to pay for any gum that has to be removed from the pavements.
Business should not be paying for this.
Convicted criminals who are sentenced to Community Service should be doing this whilst wearing bright orange boiler suits.
Business should not be paying for this.
Convicted criminals who are sentenced to Community Service should be doing this whilst wearing bright orange boiler suits.
[quote][bold]Disgusted[/bold] wrote:
Here’s an idea. Fine people for spitting and discarding chewing gum and
put a £5 a stick tax on gum to pay for the clean up. (TB is spreading
and spitting helps it to do so…) The added benefits also include
reducing the nauseating sight of gormless people chewing with their
mouths open.[/quote] Believe it or not, there already [bold]is[/bold] a tax on gum, specifically to aid in the cleaning up of the mess
Disgusted wrote:
Here’s an idea. Fine people for spitting and discarding chewing gum and
put a £5 a stick tax on gum to pay for the clean up. (TB is spreading
and spitting helps it to do so…) The added benefits also include
reducing the nauseating sight of gormless people chewing with their
mouths open.
Believe it or not, there already is a tax on gum, specifically to aid in the cleaning up of the mess
[quote][bold]Jack J[/bold] wrote:
Business should not be paying for this.
Convicted criminals who are sentenced to Community Service should be doing this whilst wearing bright orange boiler suits.[/quote] Good idea, but bear in mind it won't actually save any money. Crims on community service need supervision, which also costs, probably as much as the guy who's currently picking up gum. Not that that means it shouldn't be done, of course.
Jack J wrote:
Business should not be paying for this.
Convicted criminals who are sentenced to Community Service should be doing this whilst wearing bright orange boiler suits.
Good idea, but bear in mind it won't actually save any money. Crims on community service need supervision, which also costs, probably as much as the guy who's currently picking up gum. Not that that means it shouldn't be done, of course.
[quote][bold]Disgusted[/bold] wrote:
Here’s an idea. Fine people for spitting and discarding chewing gum and put a £5 a stick tax on gum to pay for the clean up. (TB is spreading and spitting helps it to do so…) The added benefits also include reducing the nauseating sight of gormless people chewing with their mouths open. [/quote] IIRC spitting in the street is still a criminal offence.
Try working anywhere a mass of chinese students congregate, snotting back, hacking and spitting is their culture's way of dealing with a snotty nose/chesty cough, the chinese will NOT blow their noses, gum may be unpleasant, but compared with what they leave behind...
Disgusted wrote:
Here’s an idea. Fine people for spitting and discarding chewing gum and put a £5 a stick tax on gum to pay for the clean up. (TB is spreading and spitting helps it to do so…) The added benefits also include reducing the nauseating sight of gormless people chewing with their mouths open.
IIRC spitting in the street is still a criminal offence.
Try working anywhere a mass of chinese students congregate, snotting back, hacking and spitting is their culture's way of dealing with a snotty nose/chesty cough, the chinese will NOT blow their noses, gum may be unpleasant, but compared with what they leave behind...
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