A £75 litter fine...for taking my son to feed the ducks

A MOTHER who was feeding ducks with her little boy was stunned to be served an on-the spot fine for spreading litter.

Vanessa and her son Harry are looking for other ducks to feed Vanessa and her son Harry are looking for other ducks to feed

Vanessa Kelly was even more amazed when the council warden told her 17-month-old Harry could carry on throwing bread because he was too young to prosecute.

She insisted yesterday that she would refuse to pay the £75 fine, which she branded “ridiculous” because there were no signs to say feeding the birds was forbidden.

Vanessa, 26, who is feeling the pinch having just lost her job, said: “I was horrified. It is ridiculous. Parking fines are less than this.

“I take my son to feed the ducks every week. He loves it. It is for his entertainment and to keep him happy. It is doing a good deed because the ducks are obviously looking for the food.

“I don’t intend to pay the fine. I am going to fight this to the end.”

Vanessa and Harry had been feeding the ducks at Smethwick Hall Park, West Midlands, this week when they were approached by a woman warden.

She said: “The warden walked towards me and asked me to stop feeding the ducks because of complaints about children slipping on duck mess, but there are no health and safety signs up.

“I said: ‘Fair enough,’ but she got out her little computer and started doing a fine.

“I asked what for, and she said littering. Harry was still throwing bread, though, and the warden told me he could carry on as he was too young to prosecute. I couldn’t believe it.”

She has lodged a complaint with Sandwell Council and intends to appeal against the fine. She has even taken photographs at the park to help prove her case.

Vanessa added: “I don’t think they have a leg to stand on because there are no signs to say you will get a fine. They should have plenty of signs around the park. It is not clear at all.”

The fine came at an unfortunate time for Vanessa, who is unemployed after her contract with her administration job ended last week. “It’s not good timing at all,” she said.

But Councillor Mahboob Hussain, the council cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, defended the fine and said: “We have had so many complaints about problems caused by the feeding of pigeons and waterfowl that we decided to create designated feeding areas for birds.

“We have done a lot of educational work to get this message across and we have warned people not to feed them other than in the designated areas.

“This park has a problem with Canada Geese and people living nearby have made many complaints about them. They feel intimidated by the large numbers of geese.

“Many road-users also feel the birds are a danger to motorists as they regularly obstruct the road. We are taking this very seriously and acting on these complaints.

“Too much food can cause bird populations to grow out of control as well as leaving litter and attracting rats, which poses an environmental health risk.

“Ms Kelly was given a hand-written fixed penalty notice by a warden – they do not have computers. It would be reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.”

A council spokesperson added: “As the woman was being issued with the fine the kid was still throwing bread.

“In temper she turned around and said: ‘I suppose you’re going to issue him with a fine as well’ to which the warden said she couldn’t because he was too young.”

The incident has not put Vanessa off feeding ducks with Harry. She said she would take him to another park where it is permitted.

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