A COUNCILLOR is encouraging businesses to provide free drinking water thanks to a new environmental scheme.

Maldon town and district councillor Flo Shaughnessy has encouraged more than ten Maldon cafes to sign up to Refill – a nationwide scheme which was started earlier this year.

Participating cafes will display the Refill logo in their windows.

There are 11 cafes that have already joined up with the refill scheme in Maldon.

The list includes: 

  • The Art House Café, Bee’s Café, Costa Coffee, Maldon Coffee Company, Maldon Pie and Mash, Oakhouse Café and Suzie’s Gift and Tea Shop in High Street 
  • Black Cat Coffee Shop in Wenlock Way 
  • Mrs Salisbury’s Tea Room in Bright’s Path
  • Sophie’s Kitchen in King George’s Place
  • The Vintage Rose Tea Room in Quest Place 
  • Bakehouse at Madison Heights, Park Drive

Mrs Shaughnessy said: “You can now take your empty drinking bottle into one of the participating cafes who will happily fill it up for you for free.

“It’s a wonderful service they are offering which has a very simple message – save money, stay hydrated and prevent harmful plastic pollution.

“The availability of free drinking water in the high street will benefit everyone and hopefully children will drink fewer sugary drinks and more water.”

She added: “This neatly ties in with the priorities of Maldon District Council’s Livewell initiative.

“Most importantly, this will reduce the amount of one-use plastic bottles which are such a threat to our environment, both local and global.

“I will regularly update the list of cafés in the scheme as I am sure others will want to join.”

There are 11 cafes that have already joined up with the refill scheme in Maldon.

To find out more about the initiative, visit refill.org.uk.