IPSWICH: Show how much you love Ipswich by joining our crusade against rubbish on the town’s streets.

Last week, The Evening Star revealed the shocking �460,000 cost of clearing up after litter louts – and now we want you to help us keep the town tidy.

We have linked up with Ipswich Central and the borough council to ensure the town is as clean, tidy and welcoming as possible – and looks like a place that is loved by its residents.

Everyone can help, not only by ensuring that you always put your own litter in a bin, but also by picking up large pieces of rubbish on the ground and putting them in the nearest bin.

Ipswich is not short of litter bins – and if everyone used them the town would be a much cleaner place.

Ipswich Central director Paul Clement said: “It is of paramount importance that Ipswich is seen as a clean, tidy and welcoming town.

“At Ipswich Central, we are committed to creating a sense of place within Ipswich, somewhere that residents and businesses alike feel proud to call home.

“It is also vital that Ipswich is attractive to potential visitors and investors, so that they bring revenue into the town and help us to grow and prosper.

“On a national level, Ipswich is perceived to be one of the cleaner towns, and with continual efforts from both ourselves and the council, high standards are maintained.

“Since the Business Improvement District (BID) zone was launched in 2006, we have cleaned over 298,375 sqft of chewing gum off the streets of Ipswich as well as championing initiatives such as the ‘Stubbie’ pouches to combat the cigarette butt problem that has got infinitely worse since the smoking ban came into operation.

“We have also executed morning-after and Sunday cleans, along with key graffiti cleaning and deep cleans for the grot spot areas in town.”

The borough has already declared war on litterbugs – and last week we revealed it cost nearly half a million pounds to keep the town centre clean.

During the last financial year, the council handed out more than 70 fixed penalty notices for littering – at �80 a time.

New “Glutton” cleaning machines were introduced which have been very valuable in the battle against cigarette butts.

More than 250 litter-picking volunteers have also gone out and cleared up their neighbourhoods since April this year.

But nothing is more effective than people who use the town’s bins properly.

Borough council leader David Ellesmere welcomed the Star’s new campaign against rubbish.

He said: “The better the town looks, the better it is for everyone – residents, businesses, visitors and people working here.

“We love Ipswich and are delighted to join Ipswich Central and The Evening Star in this crusade.

“To be fair, the litter problem in Ipswich is no worse than it is in many other similar-sized towns and cities, but we can all help to make things a bit better.”

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer also gave his backing to the campaign: “I think it is a great idea!

“Anything we can do to make the town look more attractive should be applauded. It doesn’t take much effort to put rubbish in a bin.

“And if you see someone dropping rubbish, just pointing out that they’ve dropped it can shame them into putting it in a bin.

“It’s a small thing to do, but it can make a big difference.”

n If you or your group would like to volunteer for a litter pick in your part of town, Ipswich Borough Council can supply litter pick sticks, handy hoops and hi-vis vests. Contact Glynis Wood to arrange equipment on 01473 432994 or glynis.wood@ipswich.gov.uk

n Don’t fret over our trial of smaller bins – councillor writes in Your Letters – page 8

n Ipswich Central column – page 11

n Opinion – page 6

n Buy tomorrow’s Star for a fabulous I Love Ipswich pull-out

n How should we tackle litterbugs? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk