Gran fined for feeding birds sausage roll crumbs
BUSINESSES and family members have condemned a “laughable” £75 fine handed to a grandmother for feeding leftover pastry to pigeons.
Zena Altham, 73, was slapped with an on-thespot penalty charge for littering after dropping leftover crumbs from her sausage roll to the birds.
Zena was out shopping with her daughter-in-law Alana Altham and family last month, when she bought the item from the Poundbakery in Accrington town centre, before emptying the leftover crumbs from the bag onto the floor.
Hyndburn council chiefs, who use a private firm to carry out litter enforcement, have stood by the decision, saying encouraging pigeons can lead to environmental problems.
However, the bakery giant and an unnamed business have stepped in to split Zena’s fine between them, amid criticism of the fine.
Alana, who lives in Clitheroe but regularly visits Accrington along with family to shop, has appealed the decision - to no avail. She claimed that by the time the fine had been issued, all the flakes of pastry had been eaten by the birds.
She said: “I think it’s laughable that she was fined for giving crumbs to pigeons. I thought ‘Are they being serious?’ A lot of people do think ‘I’ll give this to the birds’. We have tried to appeal it. They have said she’ll have to pay or go to court.”
Alana said her motherin-law has done a lot for Hyndburn, helping the homeless and donating to shelters.
She added: “She keeps a box in the car with sleeping bags in it which she gives out.
“She wrote a book of poems which raised £200, and she gave the money to a project that helps families that are less fortunate.”
She expressed gratitude to Poundbakery and the anonymous business for their generosity.
She said: “We’re all really grateful.
“We just think it’s a lovely gesture for them to do. We had gone and bought from their shop but it wasn’t really anything to do with them. They want to keep people on the high street.”
Keely Silvester, marketing manager at Poundbakery, said: “We’re disappointed with the council because it’s hard enough to get people to go and shop on the high street as it is. We want to help this woman pay her fine and keep shopping on the high street.”
A council spokesman said: “In line with the council’s drive to improve the cleanliness of the town centre, enforcement officers are tackling people who drop litter, which includes cigarettes and food.
“We, along with our neighbouring authority, Blackburn with Darwen Council, have seen a big increase in pigeon numbers and the environmental problems this brings with droppings on the paving and shop windows or doors.
“We erected signs in the town centre many years ago, asking people not to feed the pigeons, as food dropped on the floor also attracts rats and other pests.
“However, to ensure shoppers are fully aware we’ll refresh the existing signs.
“Issuing fines is often an emotive subject but our message is clear, if you don’t drop litter and pick up after your dog then you won’t be issued with a fine.”