26 fixed penalty notices in Louth for failure to remove election posters

Louth County Council has said that since the local and European elections concluded in June, Litter Wardens have issued 26 fixed penalty notices for failure to remove election posters in the required timeframe post-election.

The local authority revealed the information in its monthly management report, where it explained that under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, which expired 7 days from closing of the poll, there was a statutory exemption period for Election Posters

In details released by Louth County Council in relation to waste and littering in the county, it says its litter wardens completed 109 litter investigations in July with Fixed Penalty Notices being issued accordingly where evidence was found under the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

26 fixed penalty notices were issued in July 2024, with Louth County Council adding that its team of litter wardens continues to engage with members of the public, tidy towns groups and councillors daily, on litter matters within the county.

The monthly report shares details on an instance in July, where a Litter Warden secured a successful court conviction in Ardee Court for nonpayment of a fixed penalty notice for waste which was dumped in Collon village. Upon hearing the evidence, the court convicted and fined the Defendant the sum of €300.00, allowing four months to pay. Louth County Council was also awarded expenses of €580.00 and allowed legal costs of €500.00 plus VAT.

Another Warden secured a successful court conviction in Dundalk Court for waste dumped in the town and non-payment of the associated fixed penalty notice. Upon hearing the evidence, the Court convicted and fined the Defendant the sum of €1,000.00 and directed that he discharges Louth County Council expenses of €590.00 and legal costs of €500.00 plus VAT, with six months allowed for payment.

The local authority added in its report, that a five-hour foot patrol was carried out at the beginning of July by all Litter Wardens in the coastal area around the Cooley Peninsula. The main emphasis was on the blue flag beach and an awareness on dog fouling.

The areas covered were Templetown blue flag beach, Shilling Hill, Gyles Quay, Whitestown, Ballagan, Greenore, Carlingford, Omeath and the Greenway. The patrol vans were also parked in conspicuous positions with attached 'Anti Dog Fouling' signs on full view for public attention.