Five people had an expensive reminder that Wednesday (9 March) was national No Smoking Day.
Thurrock Council Community Protection Officers issued five £75 fixed penalty notices in Grays High Street for smokers who dropped their butts on the pavement instead of disposing of them properly.
The council and its partners in health and the fire service were in the High Street to promote No Smoking Day, the dangers of smoking, stop-smoking measures and were handing out “stubbies” or hand-held ash containers for the butts.
Joining the council’s Be Smart team, NHS Health Improvement Practitioners, the Vitality Mobile Unit, Gateway Radio 97.8 and Community Protection Officers were Cllr Yash Gupta and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Tunde Ojetola.
The day was funded by the Reducing Health Inequalities Through Tobacco Control programme, a Department of Health grant.
Cllr Gupta said: “Clearing up after thoughtless smokers costs the council hundreds of thousands of pounds each and every year — money that could be better spent on many other services for Thurrock people.
“If you can’t give up, then at least dispose of the butts properly.”
And Cllr Ojetola added: “The health issues surrounding smoking are well known. Not only do they cost the health service millions upon millions, but they devastate families which are ripped apart by unnecessary illnesses and deaths. Think before you light up!”
Although I agree in principal with this bylaw about disposing of cigarette butts (I am a non smoker), I feel that this smacks of Big Brother. Surely an official warning would have surficed, as more important issues such as fly-tipping etc.
should be perssued.
If for such small problems some one can be fined why is the destruction of Grass Verges not being dealt with under the Essex Act?
£75 pounds for dropping a fag butt on the street but only £50 if you burn a poppy and accuse British Solidiers of murder, now which is worse???
I have to agree with Lambo, I am not a smoker and I think that fining folk for chucking Butts on the floor is great. But £75? That’s a joke when desecrating a symbol to our war dead only brings you a £50 fine. Isn’t a tenner enough of a deterrent for the smokers? I know the council are strapped for cash but come on!!
obviously its easier to catch a few smokers in the high street than go out and chase fly tippers or the lorries that litter our verges with rubbish.