THE Environment Agency has announced that £750,000 in grants will be invested into the South West to tackle the region’s plastic pollution crisis, at an event in Bude last Friday.

On Friday, January 12, the authority announced funding of £750,000 for a dedicated team to look into ways of tackling plastic pollution in the South West.

This follows the launch of Prime Minister Theresa May’s 25 year ‘Environment Plan’, which will focus on eliminating avoidable plastic waste and reducing the use and production of plastic.

The money will fund a plastics and sustainability team to work with businesses, councils, charities and community groups across Cornwall and Devon in a shared aim of reducing plastic pollution across land, rivers and coastlines.

It is hoped better environmental practices will be adopted and more community campaigns will be introduced to tackle the problem locally.

Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd, made the announcement from Bude, where she met with excited community groups and organisations.

Ms Howard Boyd said: “The government’s ambitious plan for the environment is a significant step forward and the Environment Agency’s commitment to reduce plastic pollution shows how we are already working to put the plan into action.

“Plastic pollution is a threat to our natural environment and our new team promises to tackle it head on. By working together, we can reduce the amount which enters our land, rivers and the sea and protect wildlife for future generations.”

Ms Howard Boyd also spent time with students from Budehaven School, speaking to the children about their passion for protecting their coastline, and met local business owner, Tom Dawe, to find out how he had made his beachside restaurant more sustainable.

She will return to Bude in June to mark World Oceans Day.

Deb Rosser, founder of ReFILL Bude and a local environmental campaigner, was there at the announcement of the funding.

She told the Post: “We were there on Friday at the announcement by the Environment Agency. It was fantastic to have the head of the Environment Agency talking with us and the community of Bude. We feel privileged that Bude was chosen as the location of making this announcement, and it was also great to see the young children from Budehaven involved in this day.

“It was a really good day, highlighting all the work that everyone has been doing locally in Bude, and also the issue that needs to be tackled.”

Deb also hopes that Bude will see some of the grant money being invested into the South West, adding: “It would be fantastic if Bude could get support with initiatives of projects that have launched from Bude already, such as ReFILL, Bude Cleaner Seas Project and Bude Sea Pool. It’s all absolutely fantastic, and great to have the issue highlighted. Blue Planet (BBC) has really helped with this.”

BBC One’s Blue Planet has highlighted the masses of plastic that is continually finding its way into the world’s oceans and putting marine life at risk. Horrified viewers watched as a whale mourned the death of her calf, having been put at risk by the masses of pollution. Remains of albatrosses lay on the cliffs, with waste items found in their stomachs.