ENVIRONMENTAL groups, including Transition Town Wellington, have welcomed Taunton Deane Borough Council’s decision to become a single-use plastic-free council.

The groups from Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton and Athelney presented a petition signed by 861 local people, which was unanimously backed at a meeting of the full council last Thursday.

The petition called for single-use plastic products to be phased out in all council activities and for alternatives to be championed, such as reusable water bottles, cups and cutlery.

Dave Mansell, secretary of Wivey Action on Climate & Environment, said: “Councillors shared our concern about the damage being done to marine wildlife by throwaway plastics and fully supported the requests in our petition, including for a public report on progress by April 2019.”

Many of the councillors attended the meeting with reusable mugs and bottles, including the Mayor, Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey.