Play all audios:
Readers voted in our poll on whether on the spot fines should be increased to stop the scourge of litter. A huge 98 percent said yes, while just two percent replied no. Commenting on the
poll, one reader said: “The two percent of those readers that voted 'NO' are the ones that drop the litter in the first place!” Another wrote: “I believe in giving the litter louts
a very big fine, the only problem is that there is hardly anyone out there to enforce it.” A third added: “HEAVY fines...............and as for fly-tippers..if caught prison for 3 months -
6 months. crim record.” Another said: “The 2% who voted 'No' are obviously litter louts.” A fifth wrote: “We live in a different world, 70 years ago we saved rubber bands, wrapping
paper and string, the only thing that got binned was cinders, we thought that we were doing good by giving our children and their children a better life, instead we ended up with a
throwaway society.” Another suggested: “An alternative to a fine would be to give them rubbish sacks and make them clean it up.” One more added: “No need to increase fines - just enforce
them !!!” Our poll comes as people have been flocking to beaches and parks to enjoy the sunshine as the coronavirus lockdown has been eased but litter has been left behind. READ MORE:
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IGNORE SOCIAL DISTANCING AS THEY FLOCK TO BEACHES Litter picking group Dorset Devils tweeted yesterday: “One huge party on Bournemouth Beach today. Very little social
distancing, total free for all and littering galore. Litter picked on the clifftop and beach at 7:30-9pm. @BCPCouncil some bins were half empty at the Pier. No excuses.” And Harrogate
Borough Council hit out at a “selfish few” leaving their litter on the Stray in Harrogate. A spokesman told the Harrogate Advertiser: ”With the warm weather we have had, and as lockdown
restrictions ease, a selfish few think it is acceptable to leave rubbish on the Stray. “Unfortunately these people don’t even bother to use any of the many bins provided and just leave
rubbish where they were sitting. “We are doing what we can with the resources available and have increased our collections to try and manage the problem. “However, it isn’t just about
emptying bins, our teams are now having to walk the length and breadth of the 200-acres of the Stray picking up what people have left behind." Dropping litter carries a maximum fine of
£2,500 and can be tried in a magistrate's court. On the spot Fixed Penalty Notices, ranging from £50 to £80 can also be issued. _Express.co.uk polled 2,729 people on June 25 from
12.40pm to 9.30pm._