James Duddridge Local Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East has met with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, to advocate the reduction of single use plastics and the number of schemes taking place around Southend to stop litter on local beaches.
This follow’s James’s recent involvement in the joint Pernod Ricard UK/ Marine Conservation Society beach clean and survey, and Councillor Nelson’s recent involvement in Deliveroo’s litter picking scheme.
James said,
“It was great being able to discuss with the Secretary of State the Government’s plan tackling the problem of single use plastics reaching our seas. I know we were all shocked to see the pictures coming out following the May Day bank holiday, with our beaches being covered in avoidable plastic waste. These plastics end up in our oceans killing our wildlife.
I am pleased that the Government is fully behind reducing these single use plastics with the new 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment which aims to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.
I was also pleased to inform the Secretary of State about the great work that our community is doing to help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our oceans.
We should be proud that all parts of our community are getting involved to fight this issue with national companies such as Deliveroo working with businesses in Southend to reduce their single use plastics, our smaller local businesses such as Billy Hundreds creating litter picking schemes which have been very successful, and our local Councillors who have been pushed for more visible buns to be placed along our beaches.
Together we can all help make Southend’s beaches sparkle and our oceans safe for wildlife.”
