Published: 23/08/2010 09:00 - Updated: 19/08/2010 11:30

PEOPLE who spit gum on to Stansted’s pavements have been chewed out by a local councillor.

Alan Dean, a Liberal Democrat who represents Stansted South on Uttlesford District Council, has called on the local authority to clean up the sticky mess spoiling the village’s paths.

He said that Station Road in particular was blighted and more needed to be done to clean up the gum blots on the streets.

“I’ve been asking for action since the beginning of the year,” Cllr Dean said.
“The council claims to be running a campaign to improve the street environment. This month a woman was fined £75 for dropping a cigarette butt in Saffron Walden, but fining is not enough.

“The council needs to lead by example. Lots of local councils, from Chelmsford to Brighton, clean their pavements of chewing gum. Mayor Boris Johnson is cleaning up London’s pavements of gum ahead of the Olympics.

“It’s time that Uttlesford invested in keeping our streets cleaner instead of hoarding more and more taxpayers’ money that is doing nothing useful in its bank account.”

A UDC spokesman said: “Uttlesford District Council is very disappointed that the thoughtless actions of a minority are spoiling some pavements in the district.

“The council will be sending an officer to look at the area to which Cllr Dean refers.”