Firms in Wolverhampton are risking a brush with the law over cigarette ends littering pavements outside their premises.
Butts discarded by workers on their breaks have become a drag for council street sweepers since the blanket ban on smoking in enclosed public buildings came into force.
Now property owners and managers are being warned of their legal obligations to keep land connected to their premises free of rubbish.
And smokers are being told they could be handed fixed-penalty fines for dropping cigarette ends in the street.
The problem has already forced cleaning operations to be adjusted, said to be most noticeable outside pubs without covered shelters for smokers.
Letters are being sent out by the council as a reminder to comply with the 2006 Health Act.
The council’s licensing committee was told this week how increased smoking-related litter, and to a lesser extent noise outside mainly pubs, had been the biggest downside of the ban.
More bins were being installed in the city centre, and Tory councillor Neville Patten said breweries should be urged to pay for them outside pubs.
Councillor Patten, a reformed smoker, said: “The increase in discarded cigarette ends outside premises throughout the city is very noticeable and cannot be ignored.”
Committee chairman Councillor Bishan Dass said: “There has been a high level of compliance with the legislation in Wolverhampton, with only a very small number of contraventions being recorded.”
By Barry Hammond
7 Comments
Can you just believe this? With all the problems associated with yobs and other such undersirables..the council comes down heavy on people who work. The visible majority. This country IS becoming a dictatorship; what will it take for people to wake up and realise it? When there’s another ‘messy’ war fought my this government?
right on john-the do gooders talk about the terrorists and criminals civil rights but what about our’s.
The same with dog owner’s-sandwell council banning dogs from certain area’s, yet walk around my area (hill top) and the litter/mess is a disgrace, as for w’ton walk round by the wolves ground and see the mess around there!as for the yobs-easy-bring back national service for 15 to 21 year olds.
Thats not very nice johnwolf, if they had to mix with reall soldiers they would get slapped hard every day, how would yo like it if it was your son or girl not very much i dont think
I believe the council certainly aren’t coming down hard. How much of my council tax is wasted on clearing up after fag litter louts? Too much!
Smokers need to be taught a lesson and the only thing they understand is their money. Hit them hard in the pockets.
If their hands manage to put the fag in their mouth, I’m sure they can be taught to put the butt in the bin rather than on the floor! Is that so difficult?
With liberties there comes responsibilities. Sadly the majority of smokers are selfish, irresponsible and would prefer to live in a stinking tip.
“Smokers need to be taught a lesson”?
What a stupid statement.
MMMMmmm, this is an interesting post. How many more people out there are going to join in this witch hunt ??
Has anyone ever thought that these comments do not have an argument? Firstly, everyone in britain has dropped litter and if you tell me you haven’t i’ll call you a liar.
Secondly, how many of you ‘non smokers’ whine about the air your breathing when you are sitting in rushhour traffic? Or do you see this as a hazard of getting to work?
However, perhaps when you have finished hanging the smokers, I would like to suggest we then persecute the school run mothers.
In particualar I would like to hang the ones that dont strap their kids in, the ones that use mobile phones while they have kids loose in the car, the ones with cars bigger than they can see out of, the ones who must park within 1 foot of the school gates, and the ones who double park and hold up traffic whilst they catch up on gossip through the car window.
If as much time was put into catching real criminals as it is persecuting the smokers britains crime rate would fall dramatically.
HOW COME THEY ALWAYS HIT THE SMOKER……………WHAT ABOUT THE FILTHY MEN WHO “SPIT” IN TNE STREET…………WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO THROW EMPTY BEER CAN/BOTTLES/CHIP PAPERS AND LITTER IN THE STREET, OH AND AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SHOVE THERE EMPTYS AND RUBBISH IN MY HEDGES ………..AND MOST OF ALL WHAT ABOUT THE “DOG OWNERS” WHO ALLOW THEIR DOGS TO “DUMP” OUTSIDE MY GATE AND NOT THERES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!