Derby woman left 'disgusted' after bird-feeding fine

Miss Summers claimed she had fed the birds with her son at Derby's River Gardens previously and had not been fined

A woman says she is "disgusted" after being fined £150 for feeding birds at a Derby beauty spot.

Jemma Summers said she had taken her six-year-old son for a "cheap day out" at the River Gardens but ended up with the "hefty" fine from Derby City Council.

The council's website says that feeding the birds at the park is a form of littering and there are signs in the area warning people not to.

However Miss Summers claimed the signs were not visible enough and felt a warning would have been more appropriate.

There are signs asking people not to feed birds at the beauty spot but Miss Summers said there were "none" at the entrance she used

The 37-year-old, from Oakwood in Derby, said she was approached by a council enforcement officer who issued the penalty notice on Friday.

She said she had previously fed birds at the same location with her son, but had not received a fine before.

She said: “I took my son for a cheap day out and will end up paying £150 for a loaf of bread.

“I am completely disgusted. There are not enough signs. There were none placed at the entrance I came in."

Miss Summers said she believed the signs should be larger and at eye-level.

'Good intentions'

She added: "Individuals get less for parking fines and driving on bus lanes which you think most drivers would be aware of."

The penalty for driving in a bus lane is a £70 charge, according to the council's website.

In January, fines for littering in Derby increased to £150 - with an early payment fee of £90 - up from £75, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The council said while bird-feeding might have "good intentions, it can create unforeseen issues" such as attracting rodents.

A spokesperson for the city council said it could not comment on Miss Summers' individual case bus said people who felt they had been unfairly fined could appeal.

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