Litter Pickers Stick Penalty

An elderly volunteer litter picker was fined after accidentally leaving his walking stick by the roadside, sparking anger and frustration.
Alan Davies, who regularly cleans up litter in Aldridge, West Midlands, was penalised by Walsall Council after he forgot his cane and a bag containing a cushion on September 6. He left them by Longwood Lane and Hayhead Wood while out litter-picking with friends.

The council tracked Mr. Davies using CCTV footage and his car's number plate, later issuing a fine. Shocked by the penalty, Mr. Davies expressed his frustration: "Why would I leave my walking stick there on purpose? I need it back, but I can't get through to anyone at the council to discuss the fine. They’ve gone to the trouble of finding me but not returning my stick."

Despite attempts by Mr. Davies’s fellow volunteers to contact the council, they were directed to email complaints, which added to their frustration. John, a fellow volunteer, commented: "They refuse to talk on the phone. They need to prove intent, but there clearly isn’t any—it was an honest mistake."

The council’s letter warned Mr. Davies of a potential fine of up to £2,500 if payment wasn’t made. Attached were CCTV images showing Mr. Davies and John walking to their car, followed by a shot of the walking stick and cushion left behind 10 minutes later. John added, “They could have checked footage showing him driving off—it’s like trying to talk to a brick wall.”

Mr. Davies, a widower, spends his mornings cleaning up litter, including beer cans and takeaway rubbish, alongside repairing park benches at his own expense. His neighbour, Ann, called the fine "a lot of money for a pensioner" and highlighted difficulties in communicating with the council, especially for those without internet access. She added, “Hopefully, the council will back down once people hear what Alan’s been put through.”

Following public backlash, Walsall Council apologized and rescinded the fine. A spokesperson stated: “We recognise the specific circumstances of this incident and sincerely apologise to Mr. Davies. The fixed penalty notice has been withdrawn after further review of CCTV footage.”

The council acknowledged the valuable contributions of litter-picking volunteers and emphasised their role in combating fly-tipping and littering, which remain significant issues in the area.