It has been revealed that Leeds City Council has dished out a fifth fewer fines for littering in 2020, compared to the year previous.
The figures - which have been revealed as part of InYourArea.co.uk’s 'Don't Trash Our Future' campaign launched last summer that aims to address the epidemic of littering in the UK - show that the council has issued a total of 2,331 fines last year.
This is compared to 2,958 fines handed out the year before.
A survey conducted of more than 7,500 people then also found that 85% saw litter as a big or major issue in their area, and almost two-thirds (64%) thought that the levels got worse as lockdown restriction eased.
Littering is a criminal offence, which carries a maximum fine of £2,500 and can be tried in a magistrates' court, but councils often instead issue £100 fines with discounts for paying quickly, instead of taking people to court.
Failure to pay can lead to prosecution.
John Read - Founder of Clean Up Britain - said that "serious fines and serious enforcement" are needed to tackle littering across the country - but Leeds social entrepreneur Rob Greenland thinks a long-term cultural shift is needed instead to ensure people take pride in the city's green spaces.
Mr Read said that £100 fines are "pathetic" and added that: "Councils need to understand that only behavioural change will resolve Britain's litter epidemic.
"A £100 fine, reduced to £50 if paid in 14 days, is not going to change anyone's behaviour.
"If local areas are to stop being litter-ridden - which most are - then we need serious fines and serious enforcement in this country.
But Mr Greenland argued that enforcement of littering laws should be a last resort, and said he'd be worried to see more fines handed out, stating: "I would have a bit of a concern that teenagers in skate parks are getting fined rather than a group of middle-class mums and dads having a picnic".
He continued: "The only way you can tackle this is if you get people who have pride in a place, then those who might see a lot of people who care about a place and think ‘I shouldn’t drop litter’.
"A lot of parks have got ‘friends of’ groups that are really active [and] there’s Litter Free Leeds who are picking litter all the time.
"But that’s a longer term cultural shift."
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said service disruptions caused by lockdowns, as well as lower footfall in usually-busy areas, should be taken into account when comparing yearly figures, and added that while the council aims to provide "more normal levels of litter clearance and prevention", COVID restrictions mean that services may still be limited.
The spokesperson said: "Local community litter picking is also a growing resource in the city with Litter Free Leeds ‘Womble’ groups doing more and more to tackle litter in local neighbourhoods,
"We continue to take a zero tolerance policy to littering in Leeds [and] the issuing of fines is one of the many tools that we use to tackle littering in the city.
"We believe the best way to tackle the issue of littering is to engage positively and constructively with people of all ages to ensure people understand their responsibilities in relation to litter and waste and that sustainable behaviour change remains a priority [but] unfortunately, there are some people who will ignore these type of messages and continue to litter.
"Therefore we are committed to using our full range of legal enforcement powers to tackle such waste and litter crimes."
David Renard - Environment Spokesperson for the Local Government Association - added that councils "work hard" to keep public spaces clean, but the pandemic has "undoubtedly" impacted the number of fines handed out.
"Responsibility for clearing up litter lies with the person dropping it or leaving it behind," he said.
"The COVID-19 lockdown restrictions over the past year will have undoubtedly impacted the number of these handed out [and] each council has to decide the best way to tackle litter in their individual communities.
"But whilst we recognise that responses have to be proportionate, measures must be robust enough to tackle abuse of the local environment".
Featured Image - Flickr
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Everything you need to know about watching the solar eclipse in Leeds
People all across the UK will be able to see an almost total solar eclipse in the sky this evening.
For the first time this century, with the last one being all the way back in 1999, people in the UK and Ireland – including here in Leeds – will get to see 90-96% of the sun covered by the moon today (12 August 2026), and if that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, this will be the last chance to do so until 2081.
NASA and Royal Museums Greenwich has confirmed that tomorrow’s solar eclipse will be the most coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 event.
But what can astronomy fans in Leeds expect from today’s eclipse? When will it be happening? How much coverage is our region going to see? And where are some of the best places to watch?
First up, let’s get the basics out the way – what is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun’s light either partly or fully.
Although the UK will only see a partial solar eclipse this time, some other countries – such as parts of Iceland, Spain, Portugal, and Greenland – will be lucky enough to witness the spectacle of a total eclipse for a duration of up to two minutes and 18 seconds.
When will it be happening?
The eclipse is set to start at 6:13pm in Greater Manchester, and will run right through to 8:03pm – with the peak happening at 7:10pm.
How much coverage can Greater Leeds expect?
Of course, we always have to preface anything we say about astronomical events like this by saying ‘it depends on the weather’, as we do like in the north after all, and even though it is the height of summer, that won’t stop the skies from being overcast.
Luckily though, the Met Office is predicting some of the best weather conditions for an event like this in a long time, so it really is worth watching.
Spectators in Leeds will see 90 - 92% coverage, according to expert sources.
How can I watch the eclipse safely?
If there’s one thing experts are stressing, it’s the need to take correct precautions if you are planning to watch tomorrow.
The most important thing is to wear eclipse glasses and avoid looking directly at the sun.
It’s true that during an eclipse, the sun does appears dimmer therefore making it easier to look at directly, however solar radiation can still reach and damage the retina, often without causing any pain, so you may not realise harm is occurring until it’s too late.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advises that there are two safe approaches – specialist eclipse viewers, or indirect viewing methods.
Eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers must be genuine, sold by a reputable retailer, and have specially designed filters that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E). They must also have no scratches, tearing, or damage to the lens.
Old pairs may not be reusable, and sunglasses should never be used.
Indirect view methods include viewing the sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves on to white paper, or using a pinhole pierced in one sheet of card and projected on to another.
NHS are urgently looking for 500,000 men to take part in ‘major’ cancer research programme
Emily Sergeant
Half a million men are needed to take part in a ‘major’ cancer research programme.
From this week, the NHS has announced that it will begin contacting 500,000 men to invite them to join a major research programme that will work to improve the vital early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Men who have had or are living with prostate cancer will receive letters and text messages explaining how they can register to take part.
It’s hoped that this will become one of the world’s largest prostate cancer studies.
Formally named ‘Prostate Progress’, the study is designed to speed up the development of better tests, treatments, and care – with the NHS aiming to recruit as many participants as possible to improve how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated, as well as understanding the side effects of treatment and the impact they have on quality of life.
The NHS urgently needs 500,000 men to take part in a ‘major’ cancer research programme / Credit: rawpixel
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with around 60,000 new cases diagnosed every year and over 12,000 deaths annually.
Men who join ‘Prostate Progress’ will be asked to complete questionnaires about their experiences of living with the disease every few months.
Verified researchers will then be able compare men’s experiences of living with prostate cancer against their NHS records – including their symptoms and quality of life.
The NHS says it is ‘particularly keen’ to hear from black men for the programme, as they are at approximately twice the risk of developing prostate cancer – with around one in four black men in the UK expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime.
“Better representation will help researchers understand and address differences in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes,” the NHS said in a statement.
“Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK,” explained Health Minister, James Frith. “Every piece of data we gather brings us closer to the tests and treatments that future patients will depend on to live well for longer.
“Prostate Progress has the potential to become a hugely important resource, but only if men come forward and share their experiences, so I encourage anyone who receives an invitation to sign up.
“This is the kind of innovation the government’s National Cancer Plan is designed to support, making the NHS a world-leading destination for cancer research and ensuring patients across the country can help shape the treatments of tomorrow.”
The Hoot -
6th April 2021 
