Litter offenders pay £875
FOUR people who failed to pay fines for dropping litter in the street have been ordered to pay a total of £875 by a court.
All four were issued with £75 fixed penalty notices before Christmas as part of a crackdown by Lancaster City Council on litter louts. They had all been caught dropping cigarette butts in Lancaster city centre.
Carmen Bannon, of Ullswater Avenue in Morecambe, and Emma Cokell, of Westham Street in Lancaster, pleaded guilty by post to failing to pay their fixed penalty notices.
Both were ordered to pay a £50 fine, £60 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Jenna Stewart, of Ellwood Avenue, Morecambe pleaded guilty by post and received a £125 fine, £60 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Debbie Holt, of Austwick Road in Lancaster, did not appear and was ordered to pay a £350 fine, £60 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
The court also heard that Joan Wilson, of Lincoln Road in Lancaster, had been issued with a fine after repeatedly failing to remove her wheelie bin from the rear alley after her refuse had been collected.
She was issued with a fixed penalty notice, which she failed to pay. This left the council with no option but to pursue action through the courts. After finding her guilty of the offence magistrates ordered that she should pay a £125 fine, £60 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Coun Jon Barry, Cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: "It is a shame that people have not paid their fixed penalty notices and will now be faced with extra costs. However, the city council does need to ensure that our streets are clean, and enforcement is an important way to do this."
Date Published: 10/03/10