Neston and Tattenhall follow Chester as ‘Plastic Free Communities’ in Cheshire
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.
The plan included setting up a community led steering group, instigating the SAS Plastic Free Schools education programme, getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, organisations and community groups to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use.
Welcoming the Plastic-Free Neston award, Neston Town Council’s Mayor, Cllr Steve Wastell, said; “It is great to see so many community organisations and local businesses coming together to reduce single-use plastic and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.”
As well as celebrating this achievement, Cllr Wastell also looked to the future and said; “The award is the beginning of a journey to tackle plastic pollution and I look forward to working with the community to create further positive environmental change for Neston.”
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.
Helen Tandy, Director of Eco Communities said; “Hundreds of communities across the UK are working to reduce single use plastic and the impact it has on our environment. Every step towards this is tackling the problem at source, challenging our throwaway culture and encouraging the habit and system changes we need to see.”
Eco Communities will be at the Sustainable Cheshire Festival in Grosvenor Park, Chester on Saturday, 23rd September 10.30am - 8pm. Anyone can attend the free event to find out more about the work going on in Cheshire through Sustainable Cheshire and Plastic Free Cheshire projects with themes around sustainability from food to fashion, counting our carbon footprint, pollution and all things green. There will be stalls, workshops, music and activities for all the family.