Sidmouth is officially a plastic free coastline town.
An announcement was made this week, revealing that Sidmouth has been given the status by Surfers Against Sewage.
Denise Bickley, chairman of the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors, was thrilled to share the news after five months of hard work towards the accreditation.
The status shows that the town recognises the issue of single-use plastic.
To meet the criteria, six businesses had to make three changes, away from single-use plastic.
But, a total of 16 Sidmouth businesses threw their support behind the scheme, far exceeding the minimum required.
Among those that made the changes were the Filling Station, the Dairy Shop, Daffy-Down-Dilly, the Summer Shop, Taste, Dukes, The Hotel Elizabeth and Kingswood & Devoran Hotels, Ice Cream Paradise, Sidmouth Rugby FC, Sidmouth Golf Club, Browns’ Kitchen, Ford Simey, The Chattery, Cheriton Guest House, Sidmouth Sailing Club and Devon Embroidery.
Denise said the aim was to now build on the changes to forge ahead with being an innovative town, finding solutions to the problems facing the world and acting locally, to push for global change.
She also wanted to thank everyone who had attended the beach cleans.
Denise said: “We don’t want to be doing beach cleans forever – our main aim is to move away completely from single use packaging, therefore removing the problem at source.
“We have been engaging with many of the area’s schools and youth groups, with local author Jo Earlem, as well as Guy Russell from Jurassic Paddle Sports and the Sidmouth Lifeboat, to get the next generation motivated to change patterns of their behaviour.”
Denise also thanked local churches for their support, as well as Sidmouth Town Council, Barry Maher and the StreetScene team, Pete Blyth at East Devon District Council, the 330 Sidmouth Plastic Warriors and the 7,500 people who signed the petition to get the ball rolling.
The town’s plastic warriors are also aiming to do clean ups twice a day during Folk Week.
Email info@sidmouthplastic warriors.org for more information.
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