Fines the ‘only answer’ for those who don’t keep Britain tidy
December 20th 2005 A survey published last month by Keep Britain Tidy has thrown up mixed results – and suggests ample opportunities for cleaning professionals and litter wardens alike.
The fourth Local Environment Quality Survey of England (LEQSE) surveyed 12,000 sites, three quarters of which were strewn with cigarette butts, drinks litter has risen 65 per cent and fast food rubbish by 450 per cent since 2001.
Alan Woods, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said that while some improvements in the state of the nation have been maintained, there remains “a hardcore group that are utterly determined to raise to fingers to the rest of us”. According to Woods, fines and sanctions “are clearly the only language these people understand – and if they refuse to ditch their dirty habits, that’s exactly what they are going to get”.
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, which came into force this summer, gives local authorities stronger powers to tackle environmental crime. Councils can now keep the fines issued by litter wardens on the streets – and can reinvest the money in more wardens to try and offset the £415m local authorities have to spend each year cleaning England’s streets.
“Councils have taken a long hard look at themselves and are planning and cleaning up more efficiently,” continued Woods. “This means big improvements in landscaping, pavement staining, dirt, the state of our bins and the general condition of our streets.”
However, while wardens may deter ‘two finger-sticking hardcore litter louts’, councils must ensure they do not replace traffic wardens as the nation’s most hated, petty figures: Earlier this month 11-year-old Doncaster schoolboy David Dyas received a £50 fine after an apple core fell out of his pocket as he ran home from school. He was issued a verbal warning by a warden patrolling the school gate as he returned to pick up the core and was told not to do it again. Yet three days later received a £50 penalty notice – hardly positive press exposure for a campaign which aims to educate and encourage. More articles from Cleaning Matters: | 
