Litter main environmental concern among Plymouth residents

Over 1,000 took part in consultation

Litter has topped the chart as the main priority of all ages of people who took part in a recent nature survey in Plymouth.

Plymouth City Council will be investigating if it needs to carry out more bin collections or install more bins.

And it will be looking to work with new litter picking groups so they have the right training and equipment for the job.

It also wants people to be proud of their green spaces and take ownership of them in a bid to change behaviour.

Opinions of local residents have helped shape the Plymouth Plan for Nature and People.

More than 1,000 residents and stakeholders have taken part over the past 15 months.

The council aims to plant 1,000 trees by 2030, achieve Green Flag status for 12 sites by the same year and celebrate its native species such as the Plymouth pear and the horrid ground weaver spider.

Allotments have been added to the plan following a request from residents so that as the city grows so too could the number of allotments. However, in the first instance the council will look at dividing some full size allotments if people are in favour of smaller areas to look after.

The authority says it will make sure that everyone lives within a 400 metre walk of quality natural space, using nature to improve public health and wellbeing.

Seventy six per cent of respondents supported the plan’s vision during the public consultation showing community approval.

A steering group will oversee the plan’s delivery and the council’s natural environment service will implement the plan after the council’s natural infrastructure and growth scrutiny panel endorsed it.