- Joanna Beck, 38, was stunned to receive a letter from Hyndburn Council, Lancs
- The mother-of three is struggling to pay the fine in 14 days and could face court
- She said she did not know leaving the bags out would lead to her being fined
A mum who placed two extra rubbish bags out next to her bin ready for collection has been slapped with a £75 fine for ‘littering’.
Joanna Beck, 38, could not believe it when she received a letter from Hyndburn Council, in Lancashire, after ‘littering’ on the highway.
But the mother-of-three is struggling to pay the fine within 14 days – and if she doesn’t pay she could end up in court.
Joanna Beck, 38, could not believe it when she received a letter from Hyndburn Council, in Lancashire, fining her for ‘littering’ after she left extra bin bags outside her house
Ms Beck, of Accrington, said: ‘It’s frustrating – I do not mind paying for it – but it’s the fact you do not get any help in flexible ways of paying.
‘I want the council to offer a flexible way to pay, such as instalments or an extension – not everyone has £75 to pay within 14 days.
‘I’m a stay-at-home mum and have three children and I simply can’t pay it.’
Her father-in-law Julian Wilkinson, 70, added: ‘She hasn’t got 75p – never mind £75.’
She has lived at the property for around 18 months and says she did not know that putting out extra bags next to her bin would leave her with a fine.
Ms Beck has lived at the property for around 18 months and says she did not know that putting out extra bags next to her bin would leave her with a fine
However, councillor for the area Joyce Holgate said leaflets were delivered to every single household telling residents they could not put out extra bags of rubbish.
She said: ‘If you go on the council website it’s quite clearly stated – but she has only lived here for less than two years.
‘I have already spoken to the council about allowing her to pay in instalments.’
Councillor Paddy Short added: ‘The system exists to stop fly-tipping with which we have major problems in the borough – the £75 is to try stop fly tipping.’