Cigarette butt fines dropped over planter design

Fines for discarding cigarette butts in high street planters have been overturned in a Kent city because they “look like ashtrays”, a councillor has said.

Several benches with attached planters were installed as part of a £1m Canterbury City Council project to transform St George's Street.

However, only one soil-filled container had any foliage, while the rest were filled with litter, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A council spokesman said the planters were cleaned every day.

Connie Nolan, cabinet member for enforcement, said she asked fellow councillors to cancel the £200 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) as the local authority had "had a bit of a problem" with the planters.

"If they look like an ashtray, people are going to use them as an ashtray," she said.

A council spokesman said the authority’s records were not detailed enough to know how many fines – which reduce to £100 if paid within 10 days – were withdrawn.

But added it is believed it was "a very small number".

He added that maintaining the planters had been a "challenge" and that the local authority was "working to put a plan in place to ensure they help the city centre look the best it can".

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