Calderdale Council takes tackling litter very seriously.
It has successfully prosecuted two individuals for dropping litter in the borough. The cases were heard at Halifax Magistrates Court last month. Claire Sykes of Siddal has to pay a fine and court costs of £904 for dropping a banana skin on Union Street South, Halifax, and Amanda Marshall of Todmorden has to pay a fine and court costs of £1,038 for throwing a cigarette end from her car on Burnley Road, Todmorden.
Calderdale Council takes a strong stance on littering to help make the borough a cleaner, safer place. The Council will issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 to anyone who commits an environmental offence, including dropping litter and not following Dog Control Orders. Staff across a range of Council services have the power to issue fines, including community wardens, park rangers and cemetery staff. If a person chooses to not pay the Fixed Penalty Notice, the case is likely to go to court, and the court will decide the level of the fine. Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment, Cllr Barry Collins, said:
” It is a criminal offence to drop litter or to throw it from a vehicle. Calderdale Council takes this matter very seriously, and the level of the fines in these two cases shows that the Courts do too. The Council will consider taking anybody who drops litter to court.”
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Pauline Nash, added:
“People in Calderdale have told us how important it is to them that streets are kept clean. We will not tolerate careless littering of our environment. For example, people who eat food, including chewing gum, whilst walking down the street are expected to put their litter in street litter bins or take it home.”
For more information, please visit Calderdale Council’s website: Litter: clean streets. To find out more about Fixed Penalty Notices, please go to Environmental Health Policy.