22.06.08

A single Mum was landed with a £265 penalty for putting her bins out just a few hours too early.

 

Zoe Watmough ,22, was taken to court after she refused to pay her £75 fine for breaking Bolton council’s bin putting out policy.

Miss Watmough was told the council rules were strict and the bins should not be put out before 7.30 am on the day. However Miss Watmough put her bins out the night BEFORE collection.

Miss Watmough commented : “ All I did was put my rubbish out the night before it was due to be collected. Surely households up and down the country do that every week. If the council are so worried about vandals they should target them, not householders. No doubt yobs would only get a slap on the wrist if they got caught yet ive got to pay the best part of £300.”

A neighbour added “ What are you suppose to do if your not going to be in the day the bin is suppose to be collected?”

The council said Miss Watmough had been warned about putting her bins out too early on previous occasions.

A spokesman for Bolton's council says: “Prosecution is always a last resort and is used to safeguard the public and avoid bin fires and other crime. It costs the council £1,900 to deal with each bin fire.” He said the council had issued 17 fixed penalty letters since last May.

The council’s hard line has been repeated up and down the country Gareth Corkhill, 26 was fined £210 for overfilling his bins. Norwich bin men refused to empty Barry Freezer’s bins when they mistook cabbage stalks for garden waste.