By Big fines for litter dropping
Litter wardens in North Lincolnshire have been given the power to issue big fines to offenders as part of a new pilot scheme.
People caught not cleaning up their rubbish or dog mess will now face a big on the spot £150 fixed penalty notice from wardens.
Set to begin this autumn, the scheme has been approved and launched by North Lincolnshire Council’s cabinet following an influx of complaints.
Similar enforcement schemes have already been rolled out in other parts of the county, and have been largely successful.
The project will be tested for between 12 and 18 months, with four new full-time enforcement officers patrolling the area.
A statement issued on the Council website says:
“Littering is punishable by an £150 fixed penalty notice which means if, for example, you drop a cigarette butt, chewing gum, paper cup or fast food wrapping onto the street you will be fined for each item dropped.
“Chewing gum presents a particular problem as it is time-consuming and expensive to remove.
“An offender has 14 days to pay the fixed penalty notice.
“Failure to pay the fine will result in the case being taken to court and a maximum fine on conviction of £2500.”
Officers will issue and collect fines for those spotted breaching the rules.
The hope is that the scheme will be cost-neutral, as offenders will be fined, instead of taxpayers having to pick up the bill.
Councillor Neil Poole, the authority’s cabinet member for commercial matters, said:
“It’s time that the polluter should pay and not get off scot-free.
“I welcome this scheme, which has already been successful in North East Lincolnshire.”
Rob Waltham, the leader of the council, added:
“The teams will be targeting blackspots and areas where people think it’s acceptable to throw their rubbish anywhere.
“Fines will act as deterrents for anyone who thinks this is acceptable.
“We will hopefully soon see a very different environment once people start to understand that their actions have consequences.”
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