Fines for litter-dropping North Devon drivers

YOU won t get away with it - that s the message to drivers in North Devon who throw litter from their cars and onto our roads. In the last two months, North Devon Council has issued its first fixed penalty notices to people caught dropping litter from th

YOU won't get away with it - that's the message to drivers in North Devon who throw litter from their cars and onto our roads.

In the last two months, North Devon Council has issued its first fixed penalty notices to people caught dropping litter from their vehicles.The first case involved a man who was seen throwing a crisp packet out of a window on the Taw Bridge in Barnstaple. The second involved a driver who was spotted throwing fast-food packaging from a car in Roundswell. Both have subsequently paid the �60 fine.

Councillor Rodney Cann, Lead Member for Waste and Recycling, said: "We live in one of the cleanest areas in the country. However, there are still some drivers who are trying to ruin that by dumping their waste along our roads.

"My message to them is simple - we will not tolerate this and if you are caught, we will take action."

The council has been getting tough on people who drop litter following a litter blitz in January and February, when staff cleaned a 34-mile stretch of the North Devon Link Road. A total of 651 bags of rubbish were picked up. However, within weeks of the clean-up, litter started to reappear along the same stretch of road.

The council is reminding members of the public that they can report any fly-tipping or littering they see, especially if they have information about who is responsible. This can be done by calling the council on 01271 374776, emailing greensweepdirect@northdevon.gov.uk or visiting our website www.northdevon.gov.uk.