NESTON is to be closely followed by Tattenhall in joining a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throwaway plastic at source.

They have been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) in recognition of the work they have done to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.

Chester achieved its Plastic Free Community accreditation in 2018 thanks to Eco Communities UK based in Chester, which is now supporting other regions around Cheshire.

Helen Tandy, director of Eco Communities actioned her idea of supporting regions throughout the county and working with local residents and stakeholders.

She said: “Lots of communities want to start Plastic Free Campaigns where they live but don’t quite know how best to do this.

We can help co-ordinate, project manage and support regions with what we have learnt through our work in Chester.

"It has been a hugely successful process and as a result we have been working with Neston, Tattenhall, Frodsham, Ellesmere Port, Willaston and Hoole in gaining their own Plastic Free Community status.”

She added: “I am so proud of the Plastic Free team in Neston and for its achievement in a really short timescale.

"The team includes Audrey Duncan, Governance and Operations Manager at Neston Town Council and Angharad Armson from The End of the Avenue, who were both key in supporting the campaign in the region too, along with Neston Earth Group.”

In Tattenhall she said; “Yvonne Keeping has almost single handedly gained the accolade for her area with a little support from us.”

Eco Communities helped each area register with SAS Plastic Free Communities and pull together key organisations and businesses in the town to put in place a five-point plan of action.

Yvonne Keeping, a litter campaigner and resident in Tattenhall, said: “We had an amazing litter pick on the Monday of the King’s coronation and over 50 people participated.

"The sports club, church and school have all engaged with the project and we have had a monster made out of single use plastic to remind the children to put their rubbish in the bins.”

The SAS Plastic Free Community network aims to free the places where we live from throw away, single-use plastic.

Using the five point plan the aim is to empower communities to kick start local, grassroots action which can then be built upon by everyone.