Council to get tough on litter

WARRINGTON Borough Council is clamping down on littering in the town centre and warns residents if they’re caught they will be handed a fixed penalty notice.
Tobacco litter is a particular problem in the town with 150 tonnes of cigarette butts dropped in Warrington each year costing £1 million to clear up.
Last month talking bins took residence in the town centre as part of the ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign, to encourage people to keep the streets clean.
A two week education campaign was followed up with two weeks of enforcement where the council issued over 50 fixed penalty notices for littering.
The vast majority of the fines were issued for tobacco litter where smokers on the streets discarded cigarette butts often within sight of bins.
Cllr David Keane, the council’s executive member for environment and public protection, said: “This targeting of the town centre area shows that effective enforcement is taking place. Tobacco litter is a particular problem and not only are cigarette butts unsightly but they contain harmful toxins which can harm the environment.
“It is clear that residents want a clean and welcoming place to shop and to be proud of the town centre so anyone who drops litter must be prepared to pay the fine.”
If a fixed penalty notice of £75 is issued it must be paid within 14 Days (£50 if paid within 10 days) and people who do not pay the fine will have to appear at Warrington Magistrates Court where they may be liable for fines of up to £2,500.