Environmental offenders were caught and issued with on-the-spot fines as part of ongoing work by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to ensure the County Borough remains a clean, green place.
Members of the Enforcement Team joined their colleagues from Streetcare for a “blitz” on Rhydyfelin last Thursday.
The blitzes take place in a different part of Rhondda Cynon Taf every week and see staff come together to focus on cleaning up areas, sweeping public areas, removing graffiti, chewing gum, fly-posting and dog fouling and responding to the concerns of the community.
While the Streetcare staff work in the set neighbourhood on behalf of residents, the Enforcement Team also uses the blitzes as an opportunity to patrol.
During this blitz, they issued five £75 Fixed Penalty Notices for:
- One fine for a man who threw litter on the floor
- One fine for a man who allowed his dog to foul on a grass embankment and did not clear it up.
- Three incidents of trade waste being left in public streets on the wrong days.
Rhydyfelin is one of the first street blitzes to happen in 2011, but officers promise they will be identifying and targeting a set area of the County Borough every week in the coming months.
Cllr Anthony Christopher, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Frontline Services and the Environment, said: “Much work goes into ensuring Rhondda Cynon Taf remains a clean, green place in which to live, work and visit.
“We are proud of our communities and open spaces and work proactively with residents to ensure they also have pride in, and take ownership of, where they live.
“We work with them to educate and raise awareness so they can play a part in protecting Rhondda Cynon Taf. This work is successful, but there are occasions where we have no choice but to take enforcement action.
“One of the first blitzes of 2011 has got off to an excellent start, with visible results for the community of Rhydyfelin and sanctions for environmental offenders who were apprehended during this work.”
