Mother who left bin bags out is fined £75 for littering

  • 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.

Mother-of-three Ms Beck is struggling to pay the fine within 14 days - and if she doesn't pay she could end up in court

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

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.’ 



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