This is good news as our county has suffered at the hands of litter bugs for far too long.
Above Bus Driver Littering John Street Oakham March 25th 2011
Rutland’s new Littering From Vehicles Enforcement Policy was approved by the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 20 November. It aims to send out a clear anti-litter message, improve enforcement against offenders and help clean up areas of the country.
“Litter is a blight on our environment. It’s unsightly, expensive to clean up and, if not properly managed, can cause issues for wildlife. Rutland is a beautiful county and we do not want needless littering spoiling it for residents and visitors. We have a duty to protect the environment and clear litter from highways and we take this responsibility very seriously. New powers given to councils by government allow us to improve enforcement measures targeted at people who litter from vehicles. We’ve adopted these powers in Rutland so that we can take appropriate action against offenders and help keep communities free from litter.”
Councillor Lucy Stephenson, Portfolio Holder for Highways & Transport
Street cleansing operations to clear litter from public highways and open lands cost Rutland £600k per annum, with an estimated that 180 tonnes of waste collected each year.
Under the new enforcement policy, a Penalty Notice of £150 will be issued to the registered keeper if litter is witnessed being dropped or thrown from a vehicle.
“Littering is a thoughtless act and totally unnecessary. It’s not unreasonable to ask drivers to put their rubbish into bins at the end of their journeys, as most of us do. Many residents and community groups work with us to help keep Rutland clean and tidy. We feel this new policy is a fair and proportionate way to support these efforts and discourage littering.”
Councillor Lucy Stephenson
Before beginning enforcement activities, the Council will undertake a targeted education and awareness programme to make drivers aware of the new powers to be used.
