MEMBERS of the public and town councillors were recently able to gain an insight into the latest environmental group to hit Bude.
Bude Rubbish Action Group (BRAG) founder, Paul Crum, attended the July meeting of Bude-Stratton Town Council on Thursday, July 5, to provide information and an insight into what he and the team behind BRAG have been achieving.
Paul started off by stating that he set up BRAG 16 weeks ago, which now has 500 members and on their regular cleans, around 20 people attend to help out. BRAG was set up with the vision of ensuring litter is cleared from Bude’s streets, creating a cleaner town and making sure litter created does not enter the water systems and nearby beaches.
One of the first cleans followed a route from Splash leisure centre to Bude Juniors and Infants school, where the team collected an astonishing 84 kilos of rubbish.
“I try to clean up Bude as best I can,” Paul said. “For me, it’s all about education and community.”
Paul has recently become a Keep Britain Tidy ambassador. “They had seen what I was doing, and now I’m one of 100 people in the UK to be an ambassador,” Paul continued. “I’m trying to make awareness if I can, so that involves going to schools — which is pretty nerve-wracking speaking in front of 200 people. I’m trying to educate as best as I can.”
Paul explained that he has been emptying a metal bin in the area, adding: “It costs £110 to fund, but I am willing to fund this myself and empty this bin daily, twice a day.”
With equipment provided by Cleaner Cornwall, Paul hopes that litter wardens could be created in time as part of the group to look after their own area of the town.
Cllr Norman Tucker said: “There’s one area, between the golf club and Princes Street, where two gentlemen are often seen cleaning Bude regularly. I wouldn’t like you to take away their jobs.”
However, in response, Paul said that if an area is covered by authorities or companies, such as Biffa, BRAG ‘do not touch’ it — adding that they tend to clean the areas that are not normally visited.
Cllr Paul Tilzey said: “If your name gets out a bit more, you’ll get support from a lot more people. Bude is very green anyway, it’ll soon take off.”
Cllr Peter La Broy, Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Bude, added: “I’d like to offer my personal support, because I think you’re doing a cracking job. I really keenly support people taking responsibility of where they live, so thank you for all you do.”
Paul added: “It’s not just my group — it’s everyone’s group!”
Cllr Julia Bryson suggested that, as a town council, councillors could pledge their support by taking responsibility for cleaning their street or road.
Finishing his presentation, Paul said that the group was not asking for money, but support and equipment would be helpful to their future and work they do locally. When he left the meeting, councillors agreed that they should provide as much support as BRAG needs.
Cllr Tilzey said: “I think we should keep £200 in a pot for Paul to use as he so wishes.”
Cllr La Broy added: “I propose Bude-Stratton Town Council fully endorse and support Bude Rubbish Action Group.”