Two women fined for dropping cigarette ends

TWO women have been fined £75 for dropping cigarette ends in Llanelli’s Parc Trostre.

The council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the area and issued fixed penalty notices to the women, one aged 38; the other aged 65.

If they don’t pay, they could be taken to court where the maximum fine they could receive is £2,500.

The council now hopes this will act as a warning that anyone caught dropping litter will be fined.

Research shows that 83% of litter found on the streets of Carmarthenshire is smoking-related.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Our enforcement officers are extremely proactive and carry out regular patrols across the county.

“Cigarette ends in particular are a big problem as they are difficult and expensive to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks in the pavement.

“Hopefully these latest fines will help to get the message across that the council is determined to clean up Carmarthenshire and if that means we have to fine people then we will.”