Tarvin Wombles

Some of us can remember back to the 1970s' when the Wombles picked up the litter on Wimbledon Common. Great Uncle Bulgaria – the oldest and wisest of the Wimbledon Wombles was their leader. He was sometimes accompanied by Tobermory- the handyman.
Roll on 40 years and their descendants in Tarvin were in action last weekend cleaning up the mess in the turning circle at the end of Broomheath Lane on the Waverton side. Our Parish Council Leader and the Editor of Tarvinonline managed to fill 2 black sacks of rubbish but unlike the Wombles could not find ingenious ways to recycle most of the rubbish. Fish and chip containers are a real pain to dispose of!
After an evening out it seems all too easy to chuck the rubbish out the car window. We would appeal to people's better nature to do as the signs say in all our laybys- 'take your rubbish home with you'.
Today in most areas I guess that action against dropping litter seems to take a lower profile nationally – remember the 'Keep Briton Tidy campaigns'?
If you have information about a littering incident you could report it to the police, the local council or a litter warden, but it is up to them to decide whether they wish to proceed any further.

The legal position?

We should remember that anyone that drops litter in a public place is committing a crime and they can be fined under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act. The fine is between £50 – £80, and if not paid a magistrates' court can impose a fine of up to £2,500.
Persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for littering offences , England and Wales, for the financial year 2010-11 were 4796 and 79% were found guilty.