Published on:
03
September 2012
Clackmannanshire litter louts are about to be hit where it hurts most, in their pockets.
In a major crackdown Clackmannanshire Council's Council Officers led by the team of five Community Wardens are now empowered to hand out £50 fixed penalty notices to anyone spotted dropping litter in the street, with additional monitoring being carried out at known litter hot spots.
This week the Council launched an advertising campaign around the county, with posters being displayed prominently on 10 bus shelters, getting the message across that litter louts face being hit with on the spot fines, whether it be a cigarette end, chewing gum or a piece of litter that was dropped.
Councillor Donald Balsillie, Convenor of the Enterprise and Environment Committee, said: "It is unfortunate, but the time has come for more drastic action on what is one of the most common complaints received by us.
"We have always relied on education to hammer home the message with good success but the extent of the problem says to us education has to be backed up with enforcement.
"There is a hard core who think that dropping litter is acceptable. Now we are saying in the strongest terms allowed by the law that it's not."
The Council currently spends almost £700,000 keeping the streets clean. Littering detracts from the clean Clackmannanshire environment people not just expect, but demand.
Councillor Balsillie added: "We all need to start taking more responsibility for our local environment and take more pride in our streets.
"If we need to use the full letter of the law to help achieve this, then so be it.
"If the fixed penalty notice is not paid, the Council will pursue the matter through the court.
"Similar tough enforcement of the law taken elsewhere tells us that fines do work as a deterrent. People will think twice if they think their actions will cost them money."