Canterbury litter fines to increase to £200

Canterbury City Council is cracking down on litter with a rise in fines

Canterbury City Council is raising its fines from £150 to £200 in the new year for anyone caught dropping rubbish.

The new fines will come into effect on 1 January and the fine will drop to £100 if paid within 14 days.

Councillor Connie Nolan, who has put forward the rise in fines, said: "The company we employ to issue the fixed penalty notices (FPNs) has been told to use its power with discretion.

"We won't be chasing after the toddler who has accidentally dropped a sweet wrapper."

Councillor Connie Nolan says she believes the fines will reduce littering

On 4 December councillors voted to increase litter and other waste fines.

Fly-tipping fines will also increase from £400 to £1,000, with reductions for prompt payments being removed.

Those who give their household waste to someone for disposal, without checking they are properly licensed to do so and it ends up being fly-tipped, will face a fine of £500 - early payment could see this drop to £300, the council says.

Canterbury already has some of the highest fines for littering across the county - with Ashford carrying a £75 fine, Dover £100 and £150 for a penalty in Tonbridge.

Ms Nolan said: "This shows how serious we are about looking after where we live and should prove to be a serious deterrent to those littering.”

She added: "The profile of those who litter is a 25 to 49 year old male. They will be issued with an on-the-spot fine which can be settled straightaway or paid in instalments.

"Don't litter. If you can't find a bin, take it home. But there's plenty of bins, we're not short of them."

Lola and David Hopkins say they are tired of seeing litter outside their shop

However some shopkeepers in Canterbury say not enough is being done to tackle rubbish across the city.

Adam and Lola Hopkins, who run the branch of Cycle UK in Whitefriars, say they are tired of bus station passengers leaving their rubbish next to their shop.

Mr Hopkns said: "It doesn't make a good first impression for visitors.

"I don't think the litter fine increase will reduce the rubbish, there needs to be more bins prominently placed."

Ms Hopkins says volunteers are keeping the city clean.

"You often see local ladies that go around in a group, picking up litter in the bus station. It's not really their job. Just put your litter in a bin.