£75 fines handed out in Rain Bow Gate litter blitz

Burnley Council’s Green Spaces and Amenities Service believe “blitzing” the area with £75 fixed penalty fines is an effective deterrent - 19 such fines were handed out during the council’s last “blitz”

But a member of the public has complained that not enough is being done, and said the landmark had not been cleaned in two years - a charge Burnley Council deny.

Brian Jennings (68), a retired weaver from nearby Belgrave Court goes past the installation every day, and says the land surrounding the sculpture has become a mess.

“It has got worse and worse,” he said. “The students do not help having picnics on the grass.

“They were smoking and throwing cigarette ends to the floor, and even though the council fined them £75, they are still doing it.

“I have complained but nothing has been done.”

The contemporary sculpture was erected in December 2011 and was intended as a landmark welcoming visitors and investors to the town’s Knowledge Quarter.

Mr Jennings believes the council need to do more and should be held accountable for not cleaning it.

“Something must be done regularly - not just every now and then,” he said. “Why has it gone on for so long? It is ridiculous!

“I am very angry about it to be honest.”

A spokesman at Burnley Council insisted the problem was being taken seriously and issued a warning to would-be litterers.

“We take the problem of littering at the Rain Bow Gate seriously, just like we do anywhere else in our borough,” they said.

“We regularly carry out ‘blitzes’ in the area to tackle the problem and catch those responsible for littering. We will continue to work proactively to tidy up the area and get the message across that dropping litter, and that include cigarette butts, is unacceptable.

“There are bins available to dispose of litter properly. If someone chooses to ignore that and selfishly drop litter on the ground they face a £75 fine.”