THE SCOURGE of discarded chewing gum has become a sticky problem for town centre maintenance officers.

The problem is most noticable in Bridge Street. The council's Direct Services department has been chewing over the problem for years, and is now considering earmarking a special bin in Bridge Street.

Town Centre Manager Paul Rice said: "Short of a complete ban on chewing gum as they have in Singapore, there is little we can do about what is an extremely costly and time-consuming problem for our cleaners.

Chewing gum has to be dealt with separately from other litter and requires special solutions to unstick it from the pavement."

But one gum-free oasis remains - around the River of Life memorial.

Mr Rice said: "The people of Warrington have shown an obvious pride and respect in their treatment of the monument.

By getting the town's youngsters involved in its design, we instilled in them a sense of pride, ownership and consideration."

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