Posted on Wednesday 11th August 2010
The countdown has started for the introduction of on-the-spot fines for dropping litter in Gloucester.
The city council’s zero tolerance campaign was launched just over a week ago.
It will see instant fines of up to £80 handed out to litter louts for dropping anything from chewing gum and cigarette ends to cans, crisp packets and drinks cartons.
Allowing their dogs to foul footways and grassed areas will also attract hefty fines for the few irresponsible owners.
City wide posters and a radio campaign are advertising the message and fines will start to be handed out from the end of the month.
A clamp down on fly tipping in the city has already started and the anti litter programme is part of the council’s ‘you said, we did’ campaign – responding to demands from residents for cleaner streets.
Councillor Steve Morgan, cabinet member for the environment, commented:
“ We are in an awareness raising stage and are making sure that the public know what we intend to do.
“ Things will start to get more serious from the end of the month when our staff will be issuing the penalty notices to anyone caught littering our streets or allowing their pets to foul public areas.
“ We spend £1 million a year keeping Gloucester clean and much of that is clearing up after people who have no respect for the environment or their fellow citizens.
“ Residents are quite rightly fed up and have demanded we take action – and that is exactly what we are now doing. Over the coming weeks we will be starting to get tough and people can’t say they haven’t been warned.”
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PR/086/10
Posted on Wednesday 11th August 2010