Pendle Council has secured almost £26,000 to remove gum from public areas and address the long-standing issue of chewing gum litter. The funding comes from Keep Britain Tidy’s Chewing Gum Task Force and will be used to support the council’s operational services team in cleaning affected areas and installing signage encouraging the public to dispose of gum responsibly. Councillor Asjad Mahmood, leader of the council, said: "Chewing gum staining is a persistent issue across the borough, particularly in high-footfall areas and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so this support from The Chewing Gum Task Force is very welcome. Councillor Zafar Ali, the council’s operational portfolio holder, said: "Chewing gum staining is evident and negatively impacting numerous locations across the borough, detracting from the cleanliness and overall appearance of public spaces. "Environmentally, gum staining contributes to long-term surface pollution, damaging paving and increasing the need for specialist cleaning methods, therefore placing additional pressure on existing cleansing services."