Cumbrian environmentalists have praised the Government’s decision to restrict the use of plastic straws, cotton buds, and drink stirrers by next year - but say more still needs to be done.

The Government announced yesterday that plastic drink stirrers will be completely banned from sale and use from 2020, whereas plastic straws and cotton buds will be subject to restrictions in supply.

Locally, campaigners, councillors, and the public have expressed joy at the Government finally moving to act on plastic pollution but many believe that the proposals don’t go far enough.

Helen Davison, Green Party councillor for Belah and Kingmoor in Carlisle, said: “I’m pleased that they are making steps in the right direction in terms of starting to ban and restrict the use of single use plastics, but this is a drop in the ocean really.

“They need to be much bolder in the actions that they take because there is a vast number more of single-use and unnecessary plastics that are still around.

“They need to look at legislation that effectively ensures that producers have to start taking responsibility for their plastic pollution”.

A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Cumbria said: “This feels like the usual token sticking plaster approach to a massive, serious issue. It’s better than nothing, but the delay and small scale of the action will have minimal impact.”

For restaurants, bars, hotels, and cafes the restriction of plastic straws may present a challenge.

Although they will be instructed to hide them from view and to not automatically give them out, if people ask for a straw they will be given one.

Jan Nicholson, co-owner of the self-catered Kendal Hostel, said: “It’s a step in the right direction.

“People did used to ask for straws and now we can say that we don’t provide them because it’s one of our green issues.”

“It’s self-catering so if people brought their own straws there isn’t much we can do about it but we don’t encourage it.”

Laura McCrickett, a resident of Cleator Moor, said: “I believe its a step in the right direction but what we really need is huge structural reform of our policies and systems and how we manage our industries which can only come from Governments.

“I would encourage people to continue to pressure leaders into making more significant changes.”