Running for a cleaner district - Litter Champion’s unique half marathon challenge
Stroud District Council’s new Litter Champion is pulling on her running shoes for the Stroud Half Marathon at the end of October – and she’ll be carrying a litter picker and a waste bag.
Councillor Gill Thomas is the new SDC Member Champion for Litter and Clean Environment, and to celebrate the new role she will take to the start line in Cainscross Road, Stroud with 13.1 miles ahead of her, and litter in her sights.
Despite more than 1,400 bins for public use across the district, sadly a small minority of people drop litter. Clearing fly tipping, street sweeping, emptying bins and litter picking costs Council Tax payers £770,000 every year.
“I'm a really active, energetic person, who loves running and doing stuff that's a bit quirky, so this challenge ticks all the boxes,” said Councillor Thomas, who was newly-elected to Stroud District Council in May this year. “Most importantly, it will help to raise awareness about the growing problem of litter, whilst promoting the importance of community action in tackling the problem.
“I've always just run for pleasure, as a way to stay fit and active, and to unwind. I took up running about 15 years ago. We were living in London at the time, and I could barely run to the end of the road.”
She said a flat “half” usually takes her around 1 hour and 45 minutes but she’s not worried about her time so much as the message her run on Sunday, October 27 will convey.
“I'm hoping to run it in under 2 hours, but it depends on the amount of litter there is,” she said. “I've allowed 3 hours, which is the maximum time race organisers allow before giving a Did Not Finish. I'm hoping it won't take me that long, but if it does, it will only help to highlight further the problem of litter in Stroud, and the need to do something about it.”
For more on SDC Street Cleaning, visit https://www.stroud.gov.uk/environment/bins-rubbish-and-recycling/street-cleaning/.
Groups or individuals who would like to borrow litter picking equipment can visit https://www.stroud.gov.uk/environment/bins-rubbish-and-recycling/street-cleaning or call 01453 766321.
For more information on the Stroud Half Marathon, visit: https://www.stroudhalf.com/
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