LITTERBUSTER groups from across South Gloucestershire have joined Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall to welcome a national government crackdown on littering.

The recently announced anti-litter strategy includes new measures including an increased fine of up to £150 for each offence, as well as updated guidance on what’s been called ‘binfrastructure’ such as new designs and optimum spacing of litter bins.

The strategy also proposes a tough line on those caught littering such as community service orders to assist councils in cleaning up litter hotspots and areas of fly tipping, as well as working with Highways England to target the 25 worst hotspots on the national road network.

A new expert research group will be looking at ways to further reduce the littering of cigarette ends, plastic bottles and fast food waste, with the first report set to look at schemes to incentives the return of plastic caps and bottles.

The national strategy has also received a boost in South Gloucestershire with the council due to set out extra funding to create litter hit squads who will tackle the worst hotspots on council maintained but arterial routes such as the Avon Ring Road.

Welcoming the government move, Thornbury Litter buster organiser Kim Webber said the group “would welcome the fact that the government are taking further measures to address the national litter problem.

“We want to encourage everyone to think twice before dropping litter; please find a bin or take it home - we can all make a difference.

“We do hope that these measures are enforced thereby discouraging other offenders.”

Mr Hall, who joins the groups for their annual spring clean days added: “Our beautiful towns, villages and hamlets here in South Gloucestershire can often be blighted by litter strewn across our roads, parks and highways so these new measures are certainly welcome.

“Kim and her team of volunteers do a great job but it would be a great thing for our community if we all thought about the impact dropping litter can have and the time and resources it could save our community in clean up days and costs.”