Council defends enforcement approach after elderly man fined
East Lindsey District Council has defended its enforcement procedures following claims from an 86-year-old Skegness resident who says he was unfairly fined during what he believes was an unavoidable incident.
Roy Marsh told the Standard he was enjoying a gentle walk across the South Parade car park in Skegness when he paused for a rest near some reeds on a windy day. He says a leaf blew into his mouth, causing him to spit it out — an action that resulted in a £250 littering fine, later reduced to £150 on appeal. “It was something that could have happened to anyone,” he said. “It’s left me anxious about going out.”
Mr Marsh said the issue resurfaced after he was spoken to again several weeks later while walking around the boating lake. He explained that he had taken a tissue from his pocket and tucked it into his glove but had not dropped anything.
A social media post from his daughter prompted a surge of similar stories from local residents. She said her inbox had been “full” of accounts from people who felt they or their relatives had been treated unfairly or misunderstood during enforcement interactions.
Among the concerns raised were claims of elderly or vulnerable residents feeling pressured, including reports of fines issued in situations families believed involved genuine mistakes or misunderstandings.
One woman claimed her 80-year-old grandfather with Parkinson’s disease being approached after a filter tip fell from his pocket.
Lincolnshire County Councillor Ady Findley said he contacted the council after receiving what he described as “hundreds” of messages responding to the post. “Residents deserve compassion,” he said. “People are clearly worried about how enforcement is being carried out.”
In response to the Standard’s request for clarification, East Lindsey District Council said its officers “only approach individuals who have been seen committing environmental crime offences”, adding that spitting is legally treated as a form of littering.
Councillor Martin Foster, Portfolio Holder for Operational Services, said the council will only engage with individuals who have been observed committing environmental crime offences. This includes spitting as a form of littering. He said the council monitors its enforcement activity to ensure patrols are not targeted at any demographic group and remain compliant with the Equality Act. "Our aim is to encourage positive behaviour so that residents and visitors can enjoy a clean and safe environment,” he said.
Street patrol teams were introduced in 2021 working alongside existing officers who deal with antisocial behaviour, PSPO breaches, dog fouling and littering. ELDC have set Fixed Penalty Notices at £250 with a reduction to £150 within 10 days, however the National regulations have the FPN for littering at a maximum of £500. The Council said it chose to not have the penalty at the maximum amount.
Mr Marsh says he hopes lessons will be learned so others do not have the same experience. “We walk there every day,” he said. “But incidents like this make you nervous to go out.”