From 1 April 2018, if litter is dropped from a vehicle, the owner can be issued with a fine of £75 without the Council needing to know who was responsible for throwing out the litter.It is estimated to cost Wealden District Council £250,000 of taxpayers’ money a year picking up litter on roadside verges.—Wealden District Council, 18 April 2018
New powers welcomed as deterrent to issue of litter on roadsides of Wealden
“For too long drivers and passengers travelling through the District have thrown litter out of vehicles, thinking they can speed out of reach. Not anymore,” said Councillor Ann Newton, Cabinet member with responsibility for landscape protection. “We will be making full use of new powers strengthening the Environmental Protection Act to bring the culprits to justice and make them pay for the environmental damage they do. The new regulations allow local councils to fine the registered keeper of the vehicle if litter is thrown from it.”
“A substantial amount of Council Tax is spent each year to try to keep Wealden’s verges clean, but as quick as it is cleared, it reappears. It is something we all notice, especially at spring time, when the evenings become lighter.
“Much of the District has benefited from litter picking efforts of our local communities who took part in the Great Wealden Spring Clean last month. We want to keep our District looking good.”
The Council is asking everyone to help. If you see litter being tossed from a vehicle, please get in touch with the Council’s Street Scene Team immediately on 01892 602735 or via our website, with details of where and when the offence occurred, what was deposited and the registration and details of the vehicle involved.
Up until now, Wealden District Council has had to prove the identity of the person depositing and leaving the litter which is almost impossible to witness in a moving vehicle.
The new powers, which were previously only available to councils in London, are welcomed as a positive deterrent to the issue of litter on the roadsides of Wealden.
Don’t forget: If you see litter thrown from a vehicle travelling through Wealden email street.scene@wealden.gov.uk , phone 01892 602735 or report via our website www.wealden.gov.uk. You can make a difference.
