MALMESBURY Against Plastic is seeking the town’s support as the campaign group puts in its final bid to seek accreditation as a plastic-free community.

At the end of February, the group will put in its bid to Surfers Against Sewage for a Plastic Free Community status for Malmesbury. However, the group is unsure if its evidence will be strong enough to achieve the award having been declined once before.

The group of volunteers have worked for over two years to get the community on board, from the town council and Town Hall, to local businesses, community and uniformed groups, and community spaces.

In that time, the group has held three free-to-attend local events including their Plastic Unwrapped Festival, film screenings and plastic-free picnic, spoken at the meetings of 10 different community groups and set up seven refill stations in the town.

A spokesman for the group said “It has been a fantastic two years. The community response to our urgings to reduce the amount of waste produced and in particular the use of single use plastic has amazed us.

“However, we need one last big shove to heave Malmesbury over the ‘Plastic Free Status’ line, particularly from the groups and organisations that have not yet committed to reducing single use plastic use. They are the missing link to our Plastic Free Status.”

Groups, businesses and users of community spaces were asked to complete an unofficial audit, to discover which single-use plastics they use in their premises as well as in their day to day activities.

They were encouraged to remove just three of these items and to commit to raising awareness of plastic pollution. In a final attempt to rally the town into action, letters will be posted to all business up and down the High Street, encouraging them to get involved.

If you’re a business, community group or community space in Malmesbury and want to come on board, email info@malmesburyagainstplastic.com by the end of February.

Action doesn’t have to be taken by the end of February, but a commitment to do so needs to be recorded by then, to be included in the evidence package.