A smoker who threw his cigarette butt on the highway in Llantrisant was caught red handed by a Street Care Supervisor who was travelling in his van in the same direction.
You never know where the enforcement team are and now Street Care Supervisors have been granted enforcement powers there is no where to hide as Mr Williams found out.
Mr Glenn David Williams of Carn Kelyn, Beddau has been forced to pay £165 following a successful prosecution by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Streetcare Enforcement Team.
Mr Williams, aged 44 was prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act, Section 87 for discarding the cigarette on the A473 Highway nr Cross Inn.
A member of the Council’s Streetcare Team was travelling to his next job and witnessed Mr Williams throwing the cigarette out of his car window onto the highway. He then continued on his journey and failed to attempt to pick it up. Mr Williams was then sent a fixed penalty notice for £75 and was informed that he had committed a litter offence.
Mr Williams failed to pay the fine and the case was referred to Aberdare Magistrates Court where Mr Williams pleaded guilty via a letter submitted to the court.
If Mr Williams had contacted the Council’s Street Care Team he could have avoided doubling his costs by pleading guilty to the enforcement team and paying the fixed penalty notice, instead he was found guilty for his actions in court and fined £75, ordered to pay £75 costs and a £15 victim surcharge – a total of £165.
“The illegal disposal of cigarette related waste is the biggest single problem throughout the area of Rhondda Cynon Taf and has a detrimental impact on the environment and human health,” said Nigel Wheeler, Service Director for Streetcare at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
”As well as creating unsightly environmental conditions, the offence can attract vermin. In addition, the clean up costs of the increased litter and waste places a financial burden on the local authority, which inevitably ends up being passed on to taxpayers.
“The Streetcare Enforcement Team will do all in its power to eradicate this type of behaviour in the Country Borough in an effort to make Rhondda Cynon Taf a clean and safe place to visit, work and live in.”
