Exeter Secures Funding to Clean Up Chewing Gum and Boost City Centre Streets
By Community Correspondent
Exeter is set for cleaner streets after winning new funding aimed at tackling chewing gum litter across the city centre.
Exeter City Council has been awarded £30,657 through the national Chewing Gum Task Force scheme, which supports councils in cleaning up pavements and encouraging better public behaviour.
The money will fund a dedicated gum removal team and a specially marked cleaning cart, with initial work focused on Sidwell Street before being rolled out to other parts of the city centre.
New signs will also be installed later this summer, asking people to bin their gum rather than dropping it on the pavement.
The scheme is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and funded through the Chewing Gum Task Force, which works with councils across the UK to reduce gum litter and support long-term behaviour change.
Ruth Williams, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Support Services and City Management, said the funding will help improve the look and feel of the city centre while also encouraging better habits.
She said it will support both targeted cleaning and public messaging, helping to keep busy streets more presentable.
According to Keep Britain Tidy, gum staining remains a widespread issue across England’s high streets and retail areas, with previous projects showing that targeted cleaning alongside clear signage can lead to noticeable reductions in littering.
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The programme has already funded clean-ups in dozens of areas nationwide, with millions of square metres of pavement treated since it began.
Officials say Exeter’s approach will combine cleaning with prevention, aiming for lasting improvement rather than short-term results.
