Residents and traders in Woodford Halse are supporting plans to rid their parish of plastic carrier bags in the new year.
The campaign, being spearheaded by Woodford-cum-Membris Parish Council and Northamptonshire County Council, aims to make the parish a plastic-bag-free zone from January 5. It will take a further step forward on Friday (December 5), when new textile shopping bags, funded by NCC, will be on offer to residents at the village’s Christmas fair.
A range of other organisations, including Daventry District Council, Woodford CE School, The Midcounties Co-operative, Daventry Volunteer Centre and Woodford Scouts, have also given their support to the scheme. It was set up as part of the Rural Pathfinder Project, where local groups work together to address issues in the parish from improving the environment, health and housing to social and leisure activities, policing and transport.
Local shops, including Village Meats and Popsons Pharmacy, are supporting the campaign, and the Midcounties Co-operative will also recycle residents’ unwanted carrier bags at its Woodford store ahead of the January launch date. The new ‘bags for life’ will be sold to residents for £1 each at the village’s Christmas Fair in Station Road on Friday, December 5 from 6pm. Proceeds will go to the Katharine House Hospice.
Posters have also been produced for the campaign, designed by local schoolchildren.
The Woodford scheme follows a similar campaign led by Daventry District Council in Brixworth in May this year, when local traders and residents decided to stop using plastic carrier bags in several shops around the village.
Chair of Woodford-cum-Membris Parish Council Bernadette Rogers, said: “In the UK alone we produce 15 billion plastic bags a year and at least 200 million end up on our streets, causing untold damage to our local environment. I would encourage others to join in our plans to rid the parish of plastic bags and think about using alternative products when they’re out shopping.
“We’ve been delighted with the support of residents and traders on this initiative and we are looking forward to launching the scheme in the new year.”
Graham Ward, NCC Community Regeneration Officer who has been heavily involved in the campaign, said: “The parish is really working together on this initiative and we’ve had an encouraging response from local businesses and residents. Three shops are signed up to take part so far but by the start of next year we hope to have all on board.”
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