Four people in Carmarthen fined for dropping cigarette ends

FOUR people in Carmarthen have been given fines for dropping cigarette ends on the floor.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the town on January 21 when they saw a man throwing a cigarette end from a vehicle in Woods Row; a man and woman throwing cigarette ends in Hall Street and a man throwing a cigarette end in Red Street.

All four were issued with £75 Fixed Penalty Notices.

The Environmental Protection Act (1990) gives powers to local authorities to take action against individuals and businesses who create litter, and to get areas cleaned up.

Smokers who flout the law can be issued with an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice of £75, and if they fail to pay, they face a court appearance and a fine of up to £2,500.

Executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We are determined to improve the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire for both residents and visitors.

“It costs tax payers £2million a year to provide the service to clean the county’s streets, which is money which could be better spent elsewhere.”