Fly-tipping, littering and dog poo fines announced

Litter louts, irresponsible dog owners and fly-tippers will face harsher penalties after Liverpool City Council confirmed plans to employ a new company to help it respond to environmental offences.

Faced with spending £12m each year on cleaning litter and fly-tipping across the city, councillors have approved plans to bring in a firm to crack down on offenders who fail to keep the streets clean.

There will be higher fines for litter and graffiti, while a tiered approach will be brought in for fly-tipping offences.

The council said communities can "feel unloved and unforgotten" when there are high levels of litter and fly-tipping, and poorly managed household and commercial waste.

"Unfortunately there's a small minority of people who don't play by the rules and it's frustrating that it blights the lives of other people, said council leader Liam Robinson, who added: "It's not acceptable."

The charge for dropping litter will increase to £150, up from £80, with an early payment option of £100 for those who pay within 14 days.

Unwelcome graffiti and fly-posting is also facing sterner punishment, with fines doubling to £200.

Fly-tipping of up to three bags will result in a £500 fine, while more than three bags, but less than a van load, will attract a penalty of £750.

A load equivalent to a light commercial van or "clear evidence of waste being commercial, or business waste transported by an unlicensed waste carrier" will land those responsible with a £1,000 fine.

Anyone who fails to pick up after their dog will also face sterner punishment, with a penalty of £100.

Laura Robertson-Collins, the council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and communities, told BBC Radio Merseyside that the local authority had employed 12 council enforcement staff along with an external contractor to tackle the problem.

"We've got to get people actually looking and catching those people who are not doing the right thing," she said.

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