Llandovery women fined for cigarette litter
A Llandovery woman has been fined by the courts for throwing a cigarette end in the street.
Catherine Louise Joseph, aged 45, of Siloh, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 7 Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that she was issued with a fixed penalty notice by the council’s environmental enforcement officers after she was caught dropping a cigarette end in Quay Street, Ammanford. However, she failed to pay it and as a result was prosecuted through the magistrates court.
Due to Joseph’s limited income she was fined £65 by magistrates and ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs.
It is now hoped this case will act as a warning to others that those caught breaking the law will be prosecuted.
Research shows that discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire. An inspection by Keep Wales Tidy found that 83 per cent of the county’s streets had visible evidence of smoking-related litter.
Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “There is no excuse for littering our streets. We want to raise awareness of this type of litter and encourage people to behave responsibly.
“Many people do not think of cigarette ends as litter, but they are. It makes an area look unsightly and is difficult and very expensive to clean up as the ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement.
“The council is determined to clean up the county and punish those that break the law.”
Catherine Louise Joseph, aged 45, of Siloh, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 7 Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that she was issued with a fixed penalty notice by the council’s environmental enforcement officers after she was caught dropping a cigarette end in Quay Street, Ammanford. However, she failed to pay it and as a result was prosecuted through the magistrates court.
Due to Joseph’s limited income she was fined £65 by magistrates and ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs.
It is now hoped this case will act as a warning to others that those caught breaking the law will be prosecuted.
Research shows that discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire. An inspection by Keep Wales Tidy found that 83 per cent of the county’s streets had visible evidence of smoking-related litter.
Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “There is no excuse for littering our streets. We want to raise awareness of this type of litter and encourage people to behave responsibly.
“Many people do not think of cigarette ends as litter, but they are. It makes an area look unsightly and is difficult and very expensive to clean up as the ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement.
“The council is determined to clean up the county and punish those that break the law.”
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