Last updated 12:40, Tuesday, 11 November 2008

A CRACKDOWN on smokers who drop cigarette ends in the street has been slammed.

Six smokers were slapped with the fines by Barrow Borough Council Streetcare workers, who were accompanied by a community police officer, in a four-hour operation on Barrow Island last week.

Some Barrow Islanders, including community activist Anne Carruthers, claimed the crackdown was unfair and the £75 on-the-spot fine should be scrapped. Mrs Carruthers believes better education, rather than fines, is the answer.

An anonymous letter to the Mail said: “We think it is unacceptable the way the residents of Barrow Island and the general public have been treated by the council employees and the local special community police on Barrow Island.

“Turning out without warning and issuing £75 fines to people for putting cigarettes out is wrong. The practice of putting cigarettes out in the street has been going on for decades, rightly or wrongly. But that is not the point. The point is if one section of the community has a problem with litter then the overall problem should have been dealt with in a better way.”

The letter writer claimed the action stemmed from a Barrow Island residents’ meeting with the council, which was attended by only a few people.

Barrow Island’s independent councillor, Eric Wood, defended the council’s action and said there had been complaints about cigarette butts littering the island and particularly butts thrown down by people in pub doorways.

Cllr Wood said there had been complaints particularly from the Anchor Road and Ramsden Dock Road areas. He said the action was part of a national campaign against any litter throwing, not just cigarettes.

Cllr Wood said: “I chew gum but I wouldn’t dream of throwing it down on the street.”

Mrs Carruthers said a lot of people had thought the council action was heavy handed and costly.

She said she never throws a butt down on the street and carries a stubbing pouch for cigarette ends.

Mrs Carruthers said: “I agree with the letter writers, there should have been some sort of warning that if you do it they are after you.

“ It is a very large fine for dropping a cigarette. They should be educating people instead.”

She said the exercise had involved four council staff and a community police office for four hours.

She said: “I am sure everybody in Barrow Island will feel much safer in their beds knowing the council are cracking down on fag ends.

“Surely there are more important things on Barrow Island in need of close attention.

“It took them four hours to get six smokers so we are hardly knee deep in fag ends.”