Record number of monthly litter fines issued by council

A RECORD 129 fixed penalty notices for littering in a single month have been issued by Barnsley Council; the highest since the Environmental Regulatory Unit was formed in 2003 to tackle such nuisance behaviour.

Reacting to public concern about the amount of litter still being dropped, levels of enforcement have been increased.  A special squad of four of the officers targeted hot spot areas in the borough, known to be places where irresponsible members of public continue to drop and leave large amounts of litter. The areas included Wombwell, Goldthorpe, Cudworth, Hoyland and Barnsley town centre.  Officers reported the most commonly discarded types of litter appeared to be cigarette ends, fast food packaging and drinks containers.

Councillor Roy Miller, Cabinet spokesperson for Customer and Neighbourhood Services, said, "Local people have made it clear to us that litter dropped in the street is one of the things they find most irritating. It makes the area look untidy and dirty, and it costs time and money to clear it up.  By highlighting the problem and the enforcement action taken against offenders, I hope it will lead to those who still spoil Barnsley thinking twice before littering.

 “People seem to be well-behaved when there’s someone in uniform around, but resort to bad habits when they’re not. However, our officers are not always highly visible, so people shouldn’t be surprised if they are caught even though there was nobody in uniform nearby.  But do remember, all staff carry official council ID cards, which will be clearly shown to you when approached: phone 01226 772468 to check their identity if you are not sure – and no officer will ever demand money from you there and then.”

Anyone who throws down, drops or otherwise deposits any litter in any place open to the air and leaves it is guilty of an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.  This includes young persons aged 11 and older.  Barnsley Council has a zero tolerance of littering, and will either issue a £75 fixed penalty notice, and/or prepare a file for prosecuted in Barnsley Magistrates Court.  If convicted for the offence of littering, persons can face a fine of up to £2,500 as well as costs being awarded against them.  Such offenders are always “named and shamed”.  Young persons also have the option of spending a morning or afternoon litter picking in their local area and doing some “environmental homework”, instead of paying the fixed penalty notice, or can be prosecuted in Barnsley Youth Court.  Cigarette ends should be stubbed out and placed on bins – many in the town centre have special cigarette stubbers on them – or placed into “pocket ashtrays” that can be obtained from a number of outlets.

To report an environmental crime in your area, contact Barnsley Council's Regulatory Services on 772468.  Anyone who sees someone throwing litter from a car should note down details of the time, date and location, along with the number plate, vehicle make, colour and details of the type of rubbish

ENDS