‘Mum fined £100 after toy fell from pram,’ Mid and East Antrim Council told

Speaking at a meeting of the Direct Services Committee, Ulster Unionist Coast Road Councillor Maureen Morrow warned that “no leeway” is given by some firms employed to enforce penalties.

Cllr Morrow also advised elected members she had been told by a Scottish counterpart of an enforcement firm that fined a pensioner, who accidentally dropped a tissue on the pavement, £100.

“There is absolutely no leeway with these people. She was given no warning and no chance to pick it up. We need to look at these issues. We do not want to get into the same situation.”

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to employ a private enforcement company to patrol ‘hotspots’ after just three fixed penalties were issued for dog fouling.

As many as 50 bags of dog dirt dumped by pet owners  had to be cleared from a tree at the side of the pitch at Larne Rugby Club recently.

The council has said: “The vast majority of our citizens are responsible, but unfortunately there are those who continue to flout the law when it comes to dog fouling, fly-tipping and littering.”

Mid and East Antrim has been asked by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to support a request for dog fouling legislation to be updated, for penalty setting powers to be devolved to local authorities and for fixed penalties for dog fouling and littering to be increased from £80 to £250.

Cllr Morrow also voiced concern over a £250 penalty which she described as “a bit expensive”.

“Eighty pounds in most cases will make people stop and think about ensuring the area is left clear. £250 is too much. It will be going into the pockets of this new company.

“It is an awful high rate to raise it by, doing this at a time when we are handing it over to a private company to make money from it rather than the council.”

Coast Road Alliance Cllr Gerardine Mulvenna commented: “It is quite a hike but at the end of the day, we all know it is a continuous problem right across the whole borough. It does not get any better.”

Larne Lough Alliance Cllr Danny Donnelly asked how many people would the council “normally catch for littering and dog fouling”.

“£250 is quite a jump but it would be a short, sharp shock for somebody and could act as quite a deterrent.”

Alliance Knockagh Alderman Noel Williams said he was aware of a child who has lost sight as a result of dog fouling.

Bannside DUP Ald Tommy Nicholl MBE said: “We have been bothered by this for a long time but I do not think the size of the fine will affect it. It is the policing of it. We could have a £500 fine but if we are not going to police it and bring people to court, you might as well forget about it.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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