CHEPSTOW has taken the next step towards becoming plastic free with the support of the town council. 

On Wednesday 4th April, Chepstow Town Council agreed to support Chepstow’s bid to become one of the Plastic Free Communities recognised by the organisation Surfers against Sewage. 

The Town Council pledged its support for Chepstow becoming a ’Plastic Free Town’, and committed to leading by example, removing or replacing single-use plastics in all council premises and at all council-supported activities and designating council-run community spaces as plastic free. Chepstow Town Council will also encourage plastic free initiatives, by promoting the campaign and supporting events.

Dale Rooke, Mayor of Chepstow, commented: “I’m pleased that the Town Council has agreed to go plastic-free. Single-use plastic are a blight on our communities, harmful to wildlife and can take hundreds of years to break down.

“We fully support Transition Chepstow with this campaign, and the local traders that have also become involved. Some are now offering free water bottle refills, refilling detergent bottles and using environmentally friendly packaging and straws. We can all do something to help, no matter how small!”

Councillor Lissett Burrett was nominated to represent the Council on the group Towards a Plastic Free Chepstow. Councillor Burrett said: “I’m really looking forward to supporting this campaign. It will be amazing to see Chepstow come together to tackle such an enormous environmental problem.”

Tim Melville, Coordinator of Transition Chepstow, who addressed the Council, added: “We are delighted by the Council’s enthusiastic response, and we’re looking forward to working with Councillor Burrett to cut down on single-use plastic, increase recycling and eliminate plastic waste from our town.”

The next steps involved in becoming a Plastic Free Community include working with businesses to cut out single use plastics, involving community organisations and carrying out clean-ups in the town. Tim Melville said: “We’re already making progress in all these areas and will be reporting over the coming weeks on businesses and community organisations who share our commitment to reducing the over-reliance on plastics which is causing so much damage to our seas, towns and countryside.”

To find out more about Towards a Plastic Free Chepstow, come along to the next meeting on Thursday 12th April at the Greenman Backpackers Hostel, email [email protected] or visit the Facebook page Plastic-Free Chepstow.