Council Takes Action On Dog Fouling & Littering

East Riding of Yorkshire Council issued 43 fixed penalty notices last year for offences such as littering and dog fouling.

A £75 penalty notice is issued when an offence has been witnessed or where there is evidence.

There were 21 offences of fly posting, such as staking signs into verges or attaching placards to lamp posts; 13 penalty notices issued for littering, mainly for discarding drinks cans; three for dog fouling and six for allowing a dog onto excluded land, such as playing fields.

The fly posting offences mostly involved three companies who were fixing advertising placards on verges and roundabouts. Two of the companies were taken to magistrates court after they failed to pay the penalty notices: the courts imposed fines and costs totalling £1,910 and £9,300 respectively.

A fourth company, which trades nationally, was taken to court by the council for further offences after having previously been issued with, and paid, a number of penalty notices. The magistrates imposed fines and costs totalling £2,900.

Of the littering offences, one involved a passenger who dumped the remains of his lunch packaging out of the car window. He was seen by members of the public who took pictures on their mobile phones and reported him to the council.

He failed to pay the £75 fixed penalty and appeared before magistrates for non-payment and was given a total of £625 in fines and costs.

The three fixed penalties for dog fouling involved owners not cleaning up after their dog. All paid their fixed penalties. A further six owners were given fixed penalties for taking their dogs onto excluded land, including the beaches at Bridlington and Withernsea.

In the same 12 months the council also prosecuted six cases, issued a further six formal cautions and issued 14 warning letters for fly tipping offences under Sections 33 and 34 of the Environmental Protection Act, and for which there is no fixed penalty.

During the 12 months when all these offences took place, the council had to set aside a total of £5 million for street and beach cleansing, clearing litter and dumped waste, and disposal costs.

Nigel Leighton, director of environment and neighbourhood services, said:

“Our residents are making it absolutely clear that they want us to take action where we can get evidence.”

“The message to the tiny few who litter our streets and highways, who allow their dogs to foul pathways and who dump waste is that we will come after you. Tax payers’ money should be put to better use than having to clean up after those who take no pride in their community.”

“We ask residents to contact us on 01482 393939 if they see anyone littering, dropping waste or an owner not cleaning up after their dog.”