FENLAND District Council and the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard have joined forces to promote a Cleaner, Safer, Greener Fenland with a litter campaign entitled: Be Seen to be Clean. The 18-month campaign across the whole of Fenland began two months ago

FENLAND District Council and the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard have joined forces to promote a Cleaner, Safer, Greener Fenland with a litter campaign entitled: Be Seen to be Clean.

The 18-month campaign across the whole of Fenland began two months ago in Whittlesey and has now moved to March.

The campaign in March will kick off with Council Litter Campaign Co-ordinator Lotte Peeters visiting March's Fenland @ Your Service Shop and the George Campbell Leisure Centre and March Library, as well as pubs, food outlets and other key businesses to get them to sign up to tackle litter.

The first stage of the campaign will focus on the disposal of cigarette butts and other smoking related litter.

With smoking now banned in confined public spaces, there is a growing danger of some inconsiderate smokers outside pubs, clubs, shops and restaurants as well as offices dumping their butts and matches on the pavement.

Fenland Council and the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard have combined to encourage premises that could be affected to provide special cigarette bins, which are available through the council.

The campaign still has a few more weeks to run and has already proved successful, with a 60 per cent reduction in litter within the first two months.

How businesses can help combat cigarette litter:

n Provide cigarette bins outside their premises for staff and customers.

n Display campaign material such as posters and beer mats that highlight that cigarette butts are litter and that dropping them is a crime subject to a £75 fine.

The second phase of the campaign in March will be aimed at reducing food-related litter.

This phase will focus on 'food on the go' litter such as packaging, fish and chip wrapping, snack wrappers, cans and bottles.

Businesses will be asked to sign up to a voluntary code of practice to tackle the litter problem in their area.

This part of the campaign will not just target key businesses. It will also involve the wider community, including community groups and schools. The campaign will culminate in an Environmental Action Day planned for Saturday, September 8.

Any organisation or business that wishes to get involved, become a partner in the campaign or access discounted cigarette bins can do so by e-mailing: beseentobeclean@fenland.gov.uk, or by calling 01354 602139.

Councillor Peter Murphy, portfolio holder for street scene and waste, said: "We all have an interest in making Fenland a better place to live, work and play and this kind of focused litter campaigning is proving its worth in cleaning up our environment. The concept of keeping our environment clean and tidy and healthy is really catching on and I would hope March businesses would take up the opportunity to get involved.