Say No to plastic bags campaign gets a double boost

South Norfolk Council Chairman Joe Mooney has welcomed a double boost for his Say No To Plastic Bags campaign.

The Prince of Wales has sent his support for the campaign in a letter from his office, and 12 South Norfolk businesses have announced they are going plastic carrier bag free.

The office of the Prince of Wales – Clarence House – has written to Cllr Mooney passing on the Prince’s "warmest congratulations".

Cllr Mooney had written to the Prince giving details of his campaign, knowing the Prince's strong stand on environmental issues.

The reply from the Prince's Private Secretary, said:

"His Royal Highness was most encouraged to hear of your work, and has asked me to send you his warmest congratulations."

It added:

"You will know that, at last, the objectives of your campaign are being supported on a national level, which has to be the best possible news."

That was a reference to the way the plastic bags issue has taken off with national newspapers, the Government and supermarket retailers all announcing their own campaigns.

Among the 12 businesses in the district saying No to plastic bags, three have publicly voiced their support for the campaign.

Yvonne Prosser who runs The Cinnabar Gem & Gift Shop, in New Costessey with her sister Hillary Arnold is one of those retailers.

Yvonne said:

“We have stopped using plastic carrier bags completely. All we use now is paper, which can be recycled. We are very keen on recycling and helping our environment. We don’t like plastic bags because they are toxic for our planet, and for animals.

“This is very much part of our ethos here, and we support this campaign.”

Anita Hughes, of The Light Works & Interiors, Wymondham is another. She said:

“We’re trying to persuade our customers to use jute bags or baskets and they are persuadable. For me this is like the seat belts issue – once people realise how important this is to our environment, the change will come and come quickly.

"We have seen the reports of damage being done to wildlife on beaches thousands of miles away by the plastic bags we are using and discarding here.”

Julia Gilbey, of GM Auto Accessories, Harleston, is right behind the campaign and feels equally strongly about plastic bags:

“Personally I hate plastic, I think it’s a vile product, especially when you see the damage it is doing not just to our environment but across the world.

“Before Councillor Mooney’s summit meeting, I was worried about going it alone, but since then more and more people are using alternatives to plastic and I feel like I’m part of a team. There’s been a surprising change over the last six months.”

Earlier this week, Costessey Parish Council said it too was joining the Say No to Plastic Bags campaign, and the Co-op in East Anglia announced plans to cut back on the use of plastic carrier bags.

The Co-op were also at Cllr Mooney's campaign summit earlier this year, which attracted many big and small retailers to the council offices in Long Stratton.

The Co-op plan is being piloted in Wymondham - where Councillor Mooney represents the Northfields ward for South Norfolk Council - and also in Long Stratton, where the council has its headquarters.

He said:

"I am absolutely delighted that the Prince of Wales has sent his warmest congratulations for the Say No to Plastic Bags campaign and that 12 business within South Norfolk are now plastic bag free.

"This is a tremendous boost to the campaign. It will hopefully encourage everyone - residents and retailers - to carry on with the campaign to make South Norfolk a plastic bag free zone".

Although Councillor Mooney's term as Chairman of South Norfolk Council ends next week he has pledge to continue to drive forward the district wide Say No to Plastic Bags campaign.

For further details of the campaign please visit www.south-norfolk.gov.uk and click on the say no to plastic bags logo.

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