Gum Control
Homer: Oh, that. No, I was just grabbing a gummi Venus de Milo that
got stuck to your pants.
Woman: Yeah, right. That's the oldest excuse in the book.
- The Simpsons, Homer Badman
Here is a Council campaign, the aims of which every sane man and woman of Lewisham can support. BC doesn't support the death penalty, but if we did, it would be for gum-droppers. However, we're not sure about all the means - the gum boards sound revolting:
Lewisham Council is working with the Chewing Gum Action Group throughout March on a national campaign to warn people to stop dropping used chewing gum on the streets of Lewisham or risk a £75 fine.
In a 2010 survey by Local Environment Quality, gum stains accounted for over a quarter of all stains found on Lewisham streets and research has shown that the most likely people to drop gum are in the 16-34 age range.
Lewisham is one of 15 local authorities nationwide to have pledged support for the campaign to help make Britain’s streets free of littered gum.
The campaign is being supported by borough partners including Lewisham College, Goldsmiths College and Millwall Football Club PLC.
Measures will include:
- Gum Boards – special boards where people can stick their used gum – will be erected in Lewisham and Catford town centres.
- Free gum ‘wrap-it’ pouches - will be distributed by Goldsmiths’ student union throughout March
- Lamppost banners – will be displayed in Dartmouth Road and Deptford High Street
- Millwall Football Club – will display a message to fans on their big screen at their home games on 17 and 24 March at The Den.
- Gum advert - six students studying Media Production at Lewisham College will showcase their one-minute film advert called The Gum to Lewisham Young Mayor Kieran Lang.