Chichester District is set to receive increased environmental enforcement as dedicated officers prepare to patrol the area to combat littering, dog fouling and fly tipping.
The enforcement activity will commence on October 12 under the terms of a three-year contract aimed at reducing instances of littering and addressing community concerns regarding these issues.
Councillor Jonathan Brown, who serves as cabinet member for environmental strategy at Chichester District Council, commented that residents have expressed significant worry about the presence of litter, fly tipping and dog fouling, noting these problems can adversely affect the appearance of the district and diminish residents’ enjoyment of their local environment.
The council representative stated that public concerns are treated with the utmost seriousness and considerable effort has been devoted to ensuring the new contract adequately addresses the requirements of communities throughout the district.
Enforcement personnel will issue immediate financial penalties of £150 for littering offences, with the amount reduced to £100 for payments received within 14 days.
A fixed penalty of £100 will be applied for failures to remove dog waste, reduced to £75 if settled within the two-week period.
The officers will additionally support investigations into fly tipping occurrences and collect evidence that could result in Fixed Penalty Notices or criminal proceedings.
The local authority currently allocates approximately £1 million annually to clearing litter and addressing fly tipping.
More than 850 incidents were handled during the previous year.
Chichester District Council has committed to pursuing prosecutions against individuals found responsible for fly tipping.