New powers have been introduced which will help St Edmundsbury clamp down on those who drop litter in the borough.
From today, £80 fixed penalty notices will be handed to anyone caught dropping litter.
In the past, the fine stood at £50. However new legislation, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, has seen the penalty rise - although those who pay promptly will be given a £20 discount.
Cllr Jeremy Farthing, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said:
“At St Edmundsbury, we take great pride in maintaining an attractive environment for everyone who lives or works in the borough and for our many visitors. These new powers make it easier for us to target the anti-social people who spoil the enjoyment others have in their surroundings by dropping ugly, unsightly litter.
“It only takes a second to put your rubbish in a bin – and it may just save you an £80 fine.”
The Act also gives local authorities greater powers to speed up the removal of abandoned vehicles, while it will now be possible to prosecute companies which fly-post to advertise events. Tougher noise controls have also been introduced, which allow councils to issue fixed penalty notices to pubs or clubs causing a nuisance at night.
Money generated by the fines will be used to offset the cost of enforcement work.
Cllr Farthing added: “Litter, noise and fly-posting can all cause distress to people living in the borough. These new powers will help clamp down on those responsible, reducing the cost of cleaning up after culprits while creating a nicer environment for everyone.”
Anyone who sees someone throwing litter from a car should note down details of the time, date and location, along with the number plate, make, colour and details of the type of rubbish which was discarded.
The system proved its worth recently when two drivers were handed fixed penalty notices for littering after Richard Smith, one of St Edmundsbury’s Environmental Health Officers, spotted them throwing rubbish from their car windows.
Incidents can be reported to us via email on waste.management@stedsbc.gov.uk or by telephoning 01284 757320.
