RESIDENTS are fed up with chewing gum littering Huddersfield’s streets.

But it seems there is little that can be done about it.

Kirklees Council has agreed that gum continues to cause damage to the streets of Huddersfield, with large areas littered with the stuff

But they admitted: “We can’t afford to do any more.”

The council spent £30,000 on hiring a special cleaning machine to blast gum off the streets but the situation was as bad again within six months.

And only high-pressure jetting on individual pieces of gum seems to work effectively.

A Kirklees spokesman said: “There are plenty of litter bins in the town centre and people should use these to dispose of their gum or wrap it and take it home with them.

“We do have regular sweepers working in Huddersfield town centre and there are seven staff who permanently cover the area inside the ring road .

“These are backed up by other resources at times and as need arises.”

A number of campaigns have been launched by Kirklees Council against chewing gum damaging the streets of Huddersfield.

Boards were placed on the streets of Huddersfield in 2008 with the aim of giving the public a place to dispose of gum.

In 2007a four-week campaign was launched to combat gum, with gum pouches handed out for old gum.

As well as these the council used enforcement officers to patrol the streets.

They have the power to hand out £75 on the spot fines to people spitting their gum on the streets and roads.

Several residents highlighted the problems of chewing gum.

Tracy Angus, 40, from Crossland Hill said: “I don’t like the damage gum is doing.”

“The council should start to enforce fines on those who drop gum.”

Roger Thomas-Porter, 63, was visiting Huddersfield from Hull.

He said: “I used to work as an enforcer, cleaning the streets of Hull.

“Chewing gum is litter so people should be fined. When I worked as an enforcer I suggested a number of solutions including gum boards.”

“The problem is the chewing gum is dropped outside of working hours, so it isn’t cleaned.

“When people are on nights out they throw it on the floor and nobody is there to clean it up.”

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