No warning of litter wardens
Reporter Reporter Villages editor Until last week when I spotted a council litter warden standing outside Sainsbury’s. I was not aware council litter wardens could patrol and issue fines on private land.
When asked why he was on private property, the warden said he can operate on any private land open to the public, so long as he has authority of the landowner and he said he did.
I do find the way these council litter wardens operate is not fully fair and open. I question why at Sainsbury’s in Maidstone, it has plenty of warning signs displayed regarding parking penalties, store detectives patrolling the store, CCTV in operation and yet it does not have a single sign warning that litter wardens patrol their site?
Not only would such warning signs give fair warning to their customers, it would also have a deterrent effect at all times, even when a litter warden may not be observing the Sports editor Political editor area. Silly me I am forgetting this would likely mean less commission income from fines for the private enforcement contractor that is commission-only paid. Alfie Smedley Spot Lane, Bearsted
In response Jennifer Shepherd, Maidstone Borough Council‘s Head of environment and street scene, said: “We work with local landowners to reduce littering on their land as they have a responsibility to clear it up. Litter is unpleasant and unsightly.
“Most residents and visitors to the town will understand the importance of not dropping litter and will not need signs to warn them against it.
“If people choose to drop their rubbish rather than doing the right thing and using a litter bin, there is a real likelihood that they will be caught wherever this is.