Village calls time on plastic shopping bags
PLASTIC bags were officially banned in Somersham on Saturday as the village moved to become the first place in Huntingdonshire to be a plastic bag-free shopping zone. The village s green move sees it join a growing number of UK towns which are doing thei
PLASTIC bags were officially banned in Somersham on Saturday as the village moved to become the first place in Huntingdonshire to be a plastic bag-free shopping zone.
The village's green move sees it join a growing number of UK towns which are doing their bit for the environment by prohibiting plastic.
As a result of the ban, every household in Somersham has been sent a free customised cotton bag to take to the shops.
Councillor David Cornwell, chairman of Somersham Parish Council, told The Hunts Post: "This is an environmentally friendly step forward and we hope others in the area will follow suit."
He added: "We want our cotton bags will be used instead of disposable carrier bags."
Huntingdonshire District Council and some of the village's businesses, including Red Tile Wind farm, One Stop Shop, China Garden, Anderson's Chemists, Bonnetts the Bakers and Windsor Green Stores, have put forward the funds to help make cotton the choice of Somersham shoppers.
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So far, according to Cllr Steve Criswell, the public of Somersham have been supportive of the move.
Cllr Criswell, who led the parish council's environment working party as it organised the scheme, added: "Most importantly the shops have been keen to be involved. The phasing out of plastic bags is inevitable. It's good that Somersham is helping to lead the way."
The scheme has also won backing from Huntingdonshire District Council which described it as a "great initiative" and one that the parish council should be commended for.
Environmentalists claim the world produces a million plastic bags each minute, they are used for an average of 12 minutes before being discarded, and remain as rubbish for decades.
Modbury in Devon was the first town in Britain to ban plastic bags - its can started over a year ago. This followed a campaign by wildlife cameraman Rebecca Hoskins. Since then Overton in Hampshire, Girton in Cambridgeshire and Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire have all followed suit.
INFORMATION: Would you support plastic bag-free shopping in your town or village? Send your views to: Editor@huntspost.co.uk or write to The Hunts Post, 30 High Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TB.
