|
|
|
|
Litterbug Ultimatum Litter louts will soon be hit with
on the spot fines of up to £50 for dropping rubbish on the streets of
Fareham. A team of enforcers with the power to slap fines on offenders is due
to hit the streets in September. Anyone caught dropping anything on the floor
- including chewing gum and cigarettes - could be fined.
Council bosses acted after a
survey revealed that 92 per cent of residents wanted stronger action in a bid
to tidy up the borough's pavements, roads and green spaces. About £630,000 of
council taxpayers' money is spent every year cleaning-up Fareham. £8,000
alone is spent on removing chewing gum. A large part of that money goes on
expensive specialist steaming equipment that has to be used to remove chewing
gum from paving flags.
Before the team swing into action
in two months time, council chiefs are staging an awareness campaign - Bin
Your Butts - to warn residents of the stiff response they face for flouting
the litter law. "Litter from cigarettes and chewing gum is an
increasing problem for our environment and we need everybody's help to combat
it," said Councillor Brian Bayford, the council's executive member for
health and environment. "Hopefully, this campaign will raise awareness of
litter enforcement laws as well as individual responsibility to dispose of
litter sensibly."
The team will provide round-the-
clock patrols and target known litter hot spots in a bid to catch offenders.
Cash from fines could be spent on providing cleaning equipment. Keep Britain
Tidy Campaign spokesman Laura Eastman said: "A survey shows that people
drop litter because they think they'll never get caught. "The
threat of fines, along with campaigning and education, are the best
combination to teach people to use a bin." Dozens of litter enforcers are being recruited for the drive, led by Fareham, but also covering Bracknell, Basingstoke and Deane, Rushmoor and Guildford council areas.
Source: www.thisishampshire.net |
|
| Feedback form |
