West Yorkshire businessman looks to clean up region's act with new anti-litter film

West Yorkshire businessman, Thomas Black, has created a new anti-litter film following the success of his first anti-litter campaigning film three years ago.

Mr Black, the former joint chairman of the Keighley-based Peter Black Holdings, a supplier of a wide range of products and services to UK retailers, made the film ‘Don’t Drop Litter or Else!’ back in 2014.

Now, using George Formby’s ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’ as inspiration, Mr Black has teamed up with West Yorkshire video production company Dexter Media, to create another film called ‘Cleaning Up The Lay-Bys’.

Mr Black commented: “I was completely bowled over by the success of Don’t Drop Litter Or Else!, which clearly struck a chord with many people. The rapidly increasingly amount of litter in our towns and cities, as well as our countryside, is a national disgrace. People who drop litter are ignorant, selfish and uneducated.

“This time around I have enlisted the help of exceptionally talented writer and ex-regional manager of Marks and Spencer John Hirst, who has changed the lyrics of When I’m Cleaning Windows to When I’m Dropping Litter, and equally talented ukele and banjo player John Toothill, who provides the music.

“They are supported by a superb dance troupe, arranged and led by Skipton choreographer Howard Bullock.

“Although this is a light-hearted parody, with some amusing lyrics and an appearance by myself, the anti-litter message is as hard-hitting as ever. I believe the film makes it clear that dropping litter of any sort is anti-social, bad for the environment and eventually hits us all in the pocket”.

‘Cleaning Up The Lay-Bys’ was produced and directed by Leeds-based filmmaker Mark Dexter and his production company Dexter Media.

Mr Black continued: “Litter is an absolute disaster and it is up to all of us, including manufacturers such as Cadbury and Coca Cola, and fast food outlets like McDonalds, to start being pro-active and to take this issue seriously”.

Mr Black has three specific anti-litter ideas. These include corporate sponsorship of stretches of litter-strewn roads and railway embankments and sidings; encouraging supermarkets to reduce packaging and allowing customers to remove excessive packaging on site; and to have 10% off coffee and soft drinks at fast-food outlets if customers bring their own cups.

He added: “I am also aware that education is a crucial tool in any anti-litter campaign, so we will be sending our video to secondary schools across Yorkshire with the aim of teaching pupils the importance of keeping the environment clean and tidy.

“I believe strongly that a breakdown in family values and of discipline is directly linked to indiscriminate littering.”

“It is enlightened self-interest to campaign against littering. It is estimated that several billion pounds of local government money is spent on refuse management every year. It therefore follows that less litter means more money for education, the police, the social services etc – and would also help to keep Council Tax lower.

“I am lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful areas of Yorkshire, on the outskirts of Ilkley, and it makes me so cross – and so sad – to see how many people disrespect the countryside and dump their revolting litter anywhere they want.”