Traders warned of tough measures in crack down on litter

Melksham’s traders may find themselves being prosecuted if they do not keep the area around their premises tidy.
That’s the stark warning from West Wiltshire District Council, who are taking tough measures to tackle an ongoing problem with litter being strewn about on the pavements of Melksham’s town centre.
The main problems, according to district council officers, stem from food packaging and drinks cans that are casually discarded on Friday and Saturday nights.
Steve Williams, environmental enforcement officer for the district council said, “We are stepping up the actions taken to prevent street litter after public concerns were raised. We shall be making use of Street Litter Control Notices when required.
“These notices are aimed at traders in the town. The extent of the litter now being dropped on the streets of Melksham must be addressed and retailers made aware of their duty of care in our community.
“The new measures are aimed at premises which have particular problems. Our officers will speak to the retailer concerned and make arrangements for them to clear the pavement regularly. If the problem persists, then a ‘Street Litter Control Notice’ will be served to ensure compliance.
“The notice will instruct the retailer to clean the area to the kerbside and ten metres either side of the external boundary of their premises. Failure to do so on a regular basis will result in a prosecution.
“The enforcement team members are always open and approachable. They are willing to discuss any issues the public and retailers may have regarding litter and will do all they can to assist with concerns.
“I should point out that many retailers already have standard procedures to prevent litter building up. This usually consists of a simple look at the pavement around the premises when closing business and removing any rubbish – which takes seconds to achieve.”
Street litter control notices do not relate solely to food outlets. It also includes any premises that may produce litter that can end up on the street outside such as banks and building societies, cinemas, bingo halls and service stations.
Councillor Linda Conley, West Wiltshire District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment said, “Street litter is a serious issue that is becoming of increasing concern throughout the district. These measures are not meant to be draconian, but they will address the problems.
“This involves everybody working together which should invite some good old-fashioned community spirit. Melksham is an extremely inviting and friendly town, so having cleaner streets will simply add to its appeal.”
The new initiatives will not affect the regular scheduled town centre litter collections provided by the district council. If the measures prove to be successful in Melksham, they will be extended to the other four towns in the district.