Council launches new crackdown on litter louts

Specially designed new signs have now been placed along key roads in the borough – and the council has warned it will be continuing to enforce littering fixed penalties.

It has acted in response to continued complaints from residents raising the issue, with some, including the Wyberton Wombles group featured in the Standard recently, acting to clear up the streets themselves.

Leader of the Council, Coun Paul Skinner said: “Residents have taken to social media over these past few months and made it very clear to us that they are sick of this kind of selfish behaviour from people who think that they can litter, blighting our town and countryside.

“We already put a lot of resource into tackling the issue and these new litter signs give a clear message to those who decide to drop litter that it’s totally unacceptable and simply will not be tolerated.

“This is about taking back our streets for the vast majority of honourable people who dispose of their rubbish properly either by taking it home or placing in a provided street litter bin.

“The majority of people already know that littering is a criminal offence.

“I really do hope these signs will make the litterers think twice before dropping anything and encourage them to do the right thing by taking their waste home where it can be disposed of properly, or using a street litter bin provided on their travels.”

Coun Skinner helped instal the new signs across the borough with Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Coun Richard Austin, who designed the signs, which display the message ‘Thank you for taking litter home’ and ‘Together Boston Borough will be litter free’.

The signs have been cited at different locations coming into the town and will be moved regularly to alternative locations to reach highest impact.

The council says it will continue to work closely with environmental enforcement company LA Support Ltd who took over littering enforcement in September 2019.

It says officers will continue to patrol the borough daily to cut down on environmental crime and increase environmental awareness.

Anyone caught committing a littering offence – including dropping cigarette butts and chewing gum – will be given an on the spot fixed penalty notice charge.