Work to clear up chewing gum on Oxford streets

A grant, from the Chewing Gum Task Force and administered by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, will allow the Council to clean up gum and reduce gum littering in the city.

It'll take place at areas including George Street, New Inn Hall Street, Carfax, Queens Street, part of St Ebbes, High Street and St Aldates down to Christchurch Meadows.

The historic streets of Oxford frequently attract complaints from residents, businesses, and tourists about gum litter, which contributes to a poor appearance and causes issues for mobility aids, animals and historic buildings.

The authority say that:

"Removing chewing gum is labour-intensive, typically requiring 30 minutes to clean 15m² with a steam cleaner followed by a mechanical sweeper to remove stains. Services use a repurposed 1973 electric milk float for these tasks, ensuring operations align with the city's sustainability goals."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.