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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Sophie Halle-Richards

Woman, 82, slapped with £75 fine after dropping a piece of tissue on pavement - she says it was an accident... council says it was 'deliberate' and 'rules are rules'

An 82-year-old pensioner was fined £75 by a council after dropping a piece of tissue on the pavement.

Margaret Newton says it was an accident.

Town hall bosses say they're 'satisfied the tissue was dropped deliberately'.

Margaret, originally from Oldham, says she was shopping with her grandson Mike when she was stopped by two environmental protection officers in Windsor.

She and her grandson moved to the south from Greater Manchester a few years ago.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Mark said his grandmother accidentally dropped a piece of tissue as she tried to get her keys from her handbag.

The council say it was 'deliberate'.

Margaret was told the fine would increase to £100 if she didn't pay it within two weeks.

That's the same amount as her weekly state pension, which she says she needs to cover her bills buy food.

"We were just walking to the shop on Monday at about 12pm, it was a residential road, not a very busy main road," Mark said.

"I was going to the bus stop and when I looked across the road I could see these two men coming up to speak to her.

"At first I thought she might have lost something, so I gave it a couple of seconds, but they were still talking to her so I went over.

"As I got there, she said they were giving her a fine."

Margaret was handed a fixed penalty notice by council officers under Section 87 and 88 of the Environmental Protection Act.

"You couldn't even see the supposed litter because it was that small," Mark said.

"I said to them 'she is 82 and even if she had seen it, she probably wouldn't be able to bend down to pick it up'.

"I offered to pick up the rubbish for them and they just replied saying 'rules are rules'."

"I have told her not to pay the fine. I sent in an appeal, but I was told that I couldn't do it on her behalf because of data protection," Mark added.

"She is 82-years-old and doesn't have a computer or an email address, how is she going to appeal that herself?

"It's five weeks before Christmas and all she gets is state pension. She lives on her own. "

A Windsor and Maidenhead council spokesperson said: “We have reviewed the details of this case and we are satisfied that the tissue was dropped deliberately, and that there was no attempt to place the tissue in a pocket, bag or to pick it up following it being used.

“A representation to appeal the Fixed Penalty Notice has been received, which is under review."

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