The number of fixed fines for littering and dog fouling issued by Caerphilly County Borough Council has more than doubled in a year.
Last financial year the council issued a total of 430 fixed penalty notices – 71 to dog walkers who had not picked up after their dog and 359 notices issued for littering offences.
In 2011/12, the local authority handed out a total of 195 – an increase of 120%.
The council has said its zero tolerance approach was working.
Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “This significant increase demonstrates how we truly take a zero tolerance approach to those negligent people who fail to pick up after themselves.
“Littering and dog fouling is an issue that our residents think is unacceptable and needs to be addressed, and we are striving to tackle the irresponsible minority who continue to spoil the beautiful environment that Caerphilly County Borough boasts.”
A fixed penalty notice of £75 is issued to anyone caught failing to pick up their litter or allowing their dog to foul without picking up.
Bargoed woman in court over dropping cigarette end
A Bargoed woman has been ordered to pay a total of £290 for dropping a cigarette end in the street.
Leah Jones, of Heolddu Road Bargoed, was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75, when she was caught dropping the end on Bargoed High Street on February 14 this year.
Jones failed to pay the fixed penalty notice and the case was heard at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court on Thursday May 30. Jones was found guilty in her absence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Sections 87 and 88.
She was ordered to pay a £150 fine, £120 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
I live in Pontllanfraith and am always awake early in the morning when the council workers arrive in front of my flat to pick up litter from outside the shops underneath. I often look down through my windows and witness them, EVERY time, instead of picking litter, they are on their mobiles, reading newspapers, and smoking cigarettes. They eventually start picking litter, while still smoking, then throw their butts on the floor, put their bags on the back of the truck and jump in and drive off leaving their butts behind them. Are you going to fine your own workers Caerphilly Council? Or are they above the law?
Ruth, why not video them next time round and I will publish it on http://www.cleanhighways.co.uk
Peter Silverman
So they clean up, to mess up. Can't be pleasant having an ashtray right under your windows. I wonder if any of the workers read this site, hopefully one of them will and they will think twice before littering again.
Ruth:
You are one of many residents who have spotted the deliberate mistake in the Caerphilly council`s Policy, and, who are on the move to ensure that there is not one rule for us and one rule for them.
It will be interesting to see what `fines`, or other ` punishments` are applied to those Council Officers who broke the law in awarding themselves thousand of pounds of OUR money, including those who were and are involved in what has been called an illegal process and are, for time being, allowed to still sit at their desks thinking up other ways to fleece the rest of us.
This council is not just a disgrace, it is a laughing stock amongst local authorities.