Roehampton Litterbugs Warned

Forty seven people cautioned by Council hit squad

Forty seven people who were spotted dropping litter on pavements in Roehampton have been warned that next time they are caught they will face on-the-spot fines.

The council's anti-litter squad was out in force in Danebury Avenue alongside officers from the Roehampton ward safer neighbourhoods team, to target people dropping waste and litter in the ground.

In total 47 people were let off with a warning on this occasion, but when the squad returns, anyone caught dropping any kind of litter - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - will be handed £55 on-the-spot fines.

People given a penalty charge notice have ten days to pay the fine at this discounted rate. If they fail to do so, the fine increases to £80 and if still unpaid after 28 days, they face being summonsed to appear before magistrates, where they could be fined anything up to £2,500.

Environment spokesman Cllr Sarah McDermott said: "The aim of this operation was to try to make sure that all these people we have challenged will change their behaviour and think long and hard before dropping litter again. But anyone who drops a cigarette butt, crisp packet, sweet wrapper or empty can of drink on the pavements in Danebury Avenue or anywhere else in central Roehampton cannot say they haven’t been warned if they are hit with an on-the-spot fine in the coming days and weeks."

She added that there were plenty of litter bins in Roehampton and other town centres in the borough so there was no excuse for dropping litter.

October 22, 2009