Walsall to double fine for dropping rubbish

9 January 2006

WALSALL Council plans to double the fine handed out to people who drop rubbish or fail to clean up their dog’s mess.

The plan to introduce the £100 fine are part of a council campaign to change people’s behaviour.

Council enforcement staff who see people dropping rubbish – including chewing gum and cigarette butts – will hand out the instant fine.

The council’s cabinet member for environment, Cllr Marco Longhi, said: “Walsall Council is determined to change people’s thoughtless behaviour and we believe the best way to do this is by stepping up our enforcement activity.

“People must realise that they would risk a £100 fine for dropping rubbish in the street and the same would apply to irresponsible dog owners who fail to clean up after their pet.

Members of cabinet are expected to agree the new fixed-penalty fine when they meet on 18th January 2006.

“Walsall Council would rather not fine anybody and we would prefer people to act responsibly. But where thoughtless individuals make the environment worse for other residents, we won’t hesitate in taking tough action.

“We need to continue our drive to educate people and encourage them to take a real pride in our borough. Blighting our environment is unacceptable, whether it is chewing gum, litter, fly-tipping or dog-fouling.”

Since April, council enforcement officers have handed out around 90 fixed-penalty notices - currently £50 - to people seen dropping rubbish.

Those who fail to pay would be prosecuted and face a maximum fine on conviction of £2,500.

Enforcement officers successfully prosecuted a Walsall motorist after a dog warden saw litter being dropped from his car.

Roger Taplin, Yew Tree Road, Shelfield, was ordered to pay more than £400 in costs after pleading guilty to knowingly causing waste – a chocolate bar wrapper – to be deposited from a vehicle in his control.

Aldridge Magistrates gave Mr Taplin an absolute discharge, but ordered him to pay £407 in costs.

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