Woman loses appeal against £150 bird feeding fine

Jenna Summers said she had reluctantly paid the fine

A woman who was fined £150 for feeding birds at a Derby beauty spot has lost an appeal against the charge.

Jenna Summers said she was left "disgusted" after being issued with the fine for littering in the city's River Gardens on 31 May.

The 37-year-old, from Oakwood in Derby, challenged the penalty arguing signs about the ban on bird feeding were unclear.

However the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said Derby City Council had now rejected the appeal.

'More signs needed'

Miss Summers said she had now paid the fine - at a reduced rate of £90 - but maintained the council was in the wrong.

She told the LDRS she wanted to take the dispute to court but did not want to risk having to pay out more money.

She said: “It’s a lot of money to fork out when initially I bought a £1 loaf of bread for a cheap day out.

"It’s £90 that could have gone towards new school clothes or shoes. My kids go through them like anything.

“It’s £90 that could have gone towards more shopping for the summer holidays when they’re off and eating at home.

"But I’ve just ended up paying it as I can’t be doing with the stress of court. I am going to be making a formal complaint and requesting they put more signs up.”

The council said bird feeding could attract vermin to River Gardens

An email to Miss Summers, seen by the LDRS, from Kingdom Local Authority Support – the agency recruited by the city council to tackle littering and fly-tipping across Derby – maintained the fine was “issued correctly”.

A spokesperson for Derby City Council said it could not comment on individual cases.

However, it said: “It is an offence to drop litter anywhere in the city, which includes leftover food from feeding birds.

"While those who feed the birds may have good intentions, it can create unforeseen issues.

"Excess food can lead to an increase in pigeons, leading to more droppings and mess. It can also attract rodents and end up in our drains and waterways.”

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