Litterers pay the price for ignoring fixed penalty notices

Two Northampton men who ignored fixed penalty notices for littering will have to pay more than £1,700 each in fines and court costs, magistrates have ruled.

Tyler Howard (41), of Bouverie Walk, was spotted dropping a refuse sack on a verge near his home before his waste collection day. He then refused to pick it up when asked to do so by a Neighbourhood Warden.

Richard Travis (40), of Broadmead Avenue, dumped a large cardboard box in Northampton’s Eastfield Park.

Neighbourhood Wardens from West Northamptonshire Council issued both with £150 fixed penalty notices for the littering offences, which took place in April last year.

When they failed to pay or make any kind of contact with the Council they were summonsed to court.

And at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court last week (Tuesday 15 February) both were found guilty in their absence and each fined £400 and ordered to pay £1,275 in legal costs, plus a £40 victim surcharge.

Litter and fly-tipping are a blight on the environment of West Northamptonshire. It is something that residents regularly complain about and we spend thousands of pounds a year collecting the litter and waste dropped and dumped on our streets, roadsides and open spaces.

Unfortunately it is people themselves who fly tip and litter, and it is only right that we take enforcement action against the perpetrators where we can.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Climate and Waste Services at West Northamptonshire Council

The Council sets out its approach to tackling litter in its Litter Charter.