Litter fines worth £125,000 handed out in Blackpool - and the council says it didn't see a penny of it
The penalty notices, handed out by private firm 3GS Environmental Solutions as part of a year long trial, were worth a total of £127,280, though not all were paid.
“The council received no revenue from these fixed penalty notices,” information governance manager Deborah Topping said in response to a request made under freedom of information laws.
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Hide Ad“I am informed that the income paid for resources deployed by 3GS.”
3GS issued 1,591 fines between August 28, 2016, and September 29, last year, but in October The Gazette revealed how the pilot scheme had come to an end, with a council report saying the link-up with 3GS ‘has not realised or resulted in the benefits envisaged at the outset of the scheme’.Deputy council leader Coun Gillian Campbell said the council would likely ‘develop the service in-house, focusing on littering, dog fouling, and fly-tipping’.
She said: “We believe the wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise across our own public protection, street cleaning and legal services in relation to the issuing of FPNs will serve us better.”
Tourist Georgina Hewlitt-Leigh was fined for dropping a cigerette in Birley Street shortly after arriving in the resort, and said being collared had left her considering staying away.“I was going to bring my children and grandchildren to Blackpool but now I’m not so sure,” she said. “I’m not paying the fine.”