Littering is a persistent and expensive problem for London. Neat Streets will run from May to December in Villiers Street, Westminster, which has the second highest footfall in the Capital. Research found that 62% of street users drop litter. We have already run a number of campaigns in the street, seen at https://www.hubbub.org.uk/neat-streets.
The launch of the project has attracted considerable interest with articles in the Times, The Observer and Radio 5 Live. £90,500 of private sector funding has been secured and a wide array of stakeholders including the City of Westminster, NorthBank BID and local businesses are extensively involved. Independent evaluation has already been commissioned to robustly measure the projects impacts.
The High Street Fund would fund the essential concluding components of Neat Streets in September, linking to the Totally Thames Festival. We will showcase innovative ways found to reduce litter, celebrating the area and boosting community pride.
Neat Streets presents new ideas to tackle the unsightly stain of litter on our streets. It will bring the Embankment to life, linking to the Totally Thames Festival ambitions, celebrating a pioneering campaign in the heart of London.
Two weeks of concentrated activity will enable the messages of the wider campaign to be consolidated and amplified, ensuring maximal and lasting impact in the area. It will celebrate the local community, harnessing the enthusiasm of those already involved. Over 90 members of the local public took part in the ‘My Street Is Your Street’ photo gallery and remain positively engaged.
The wider scope is significant. The project aims to inspire change and act as a catalyst for more concerted activity against littering on other streets in London, and the UK. Already there have been expressions of interest to replicate successful project elements elsewhere, from The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to Zero Waste Scotland.
The six month project is a collaboration with Westminster City Council, its waste contractor Veolia, and a number of packaging associations. To-date collective financial support totals £90,500. We do not have funding for the proposed activity in September and would look to entirely fund this from the Mayor’s Fund.
Through local stakeholder consultation we have learnt that the street lacks a sense of identity. We will enhance the ‘sense of place’ and purpose, giving the street new vitality and appeal. This will also boost community pride and feeling of local ownership – uniting local groups and businesses. Acting as a catalyst for cleaner, greener, and safer high streets elsewhere.
There is a wealth of experience within Hubbub, founded by Trewin Restorick previously the Founder/CEO of the award-winning UNEP endorsed Global Action Plan. There is considerable expertise within our Board of trustees, chaired by Viki Cooke, Co Founder of Britain Thinks.