LibDem mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita teamed up with a group of volunteers from Merton LibDems to do a clean-up on the River Wandle in Wimbledon on Sunday. They were accompanied by a life-sized Womble as they collected rubbish along the riverbank.
Benita, who was born and grew up in Merton and is bidding to become the first LibDem and first female Mayor of London in May’s election, pledged to do a monthly litter-pick up as part of her package to make the capital litter-free and plastic-free.
The former senior civil servant, who has extensive experience across all government departments, is offering voters a ‘safer, greener, kinder London’. She has already unveiled policies to tackle knife crime, increase community policing and improve transport services.
Fellow-LibDems who took part in the litter pick-up included Councillor Paul Kohler, current London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, and Councillor Hina Bokhari and Sue Wixley who are hoping to be elected to the London Assembly in May’s election.
Benita said: “Growing up I remember so well the Keep Britain Tidy campaign – and of course the wonderful Wombles of Wimbledon. If I become Mayor, I will launch a programme to make London litter-free through targeted action and a large-scale anti-litter, pro-recycling education campaign. I want London to become a city of no plastic, no waste and no litter.
We can and must be a greener and cleaner city. To help achieve this, I pledge personally to do a monthly litter-pick in different parts of the capital. I’ll take the spirit of the Wombles out of Wimbledon – and maybe a life-sized Womble too – and spread their fabulous recycling message across London.”
