Ignoring Fixed Penalty Notice leads to increased littering fine
A man who failed to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for littering in Andover has now been ordered to pay more than five times his original fine.
On 30 June 2023 Albert Bowers, who is also named in the Council’s injunction to prevent unauthorised encampments in Test Valley, was seen exiting the Village Stores in Charlton, Andover, and decanting a small bottle into another bottle. The empty glass bottle was then thrown into the front garden of a nearby property before Bowers drove away.
The incident was caught on one of Test Valley Borough Council’s (TVBC) vehicle’s dashcam.
A DVLA check showed that Bowers was the keeper of the vehicle and on 12 July 2023 he was issued with a FPN for littering worth £150, or £75 if paid within 7 days. He was given 14 days to pay the penalty, but no payment was received.
At Southampton Magistrates Court, on 1 December 2023, Bowers was ordered to pay a total of £875.
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, Councillor David Drew, said: “This incident was so easily avoidable, and I’m pleased the culprit has been punished by the courts. This result is proof that all littering, no matter how big or small, is unacceptable in Test Valley. Throwing your litter into someone’s garden is totally unacceptable; how easy it would have been for this empty bottle to be disposed of correctly. There are absolutely no excuses for this type of behaviour.”