One year on from the smoking ban Westminster City Council has named and shamed a string of companies and organisations for failing to tackle the growing scourge of cigarette litter which is blighting Britain's streets.

Following the introduction of legislation last July smokers have been forced outdoors to take their nicotine fix, leaving a sea of cigarette butts in their wake. And among the guilty list of offenders is the Government department responsible for environmental affairs, Defra, which despite being publicly shamed last year by Westminster council is still failing to tackle litter outside its offices.

But the department is in good company as other culprits in this year's list of shame includes Transport for London,Waitrose, renowned for its championing of the environment, and Channel 4 TV.

Household names McDonalds and Tesco also come under fire over cigarette litter outside two of their sites, as too does the Passport Office, which regularly allows staff and visitors to leave a raft of butts in the street.

Cllr Danny Chalkley, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: "It's incredibly disappointing that one year on many organisations, including some very eminent names, are not tackling the unsightly mess of smoking related litter left on their doorsteps by staff and visitors.

"Westminster has an enviable reputation as one of the cleanest areas of the UK, but the trail of discarded cigarettes left on our streets is creating an unacceptable eyesore. We've given people plenty of time to get used to the smoking ban and it's obvious that far too many are simply not listening."

Local authorities have the power to issue 80 fixed penalty notices for littering to people caught throwing cigarette butts on the ground, the fine is reduced to 50 if paid within 10 days. The maximum court fine is 2,500.

But it's not all bad news for the Government, out of three departments named and shamed last year only Defra has failed to clean up its act. And the Home Office is still a beacon of best practice with ample cigarette bins and regular sweeping of its doorways.

Although bars and clubs feature heavily in the list of shame, other culprits include the French banking giant BNP Paribas, bookmakers William Hill and Coral, coffee shop Costa Coffee and also Transport for London's London Underground HQ at St James's Park.

In a bid to highlight the problem Westminster City Council's City Guardians will be handing our free packs of stubbies, specially designed pouches for storing cigarette butts, in problem areas this week (Monday 30th June -Friday 4th July) while City Inspectors, who have the power to issue on the spot fines, will be giving litterbugs and organisations final warnings before taking tough enforcement action.

Cllr Chalkley added: "These organisations should be doing more, and smokers really need to think about the impact they're having on our beautiful city. Most people wouldn't dream of casually dropping a can of drink or food wrapper on the pavement, so why they feel it is acceptable to drop their cigarettes is beyond me.

"Our aim has always been to work with organisations and have a quiet word with those we catch littering rather than rely on our legal powers, but enough is enough.We will not allow this situation to continue. Offenders are being put on notice, their time is up."

Planning restrictions mean it's more difficult for some organisations to combat the problem, but in most cases specially designed cigarette bins would be permissible and regular sweeping of any problem areas would ensure the streets are kept clean.

Westminster has an unrivalled reputation for the cleanliness of its streets. The council was commended at the British Cleaning Council's 'Cleanest City' 2007. Westminster continues to be the only British city to have reached the final 10 every year since the competition began in 1988.

 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Westminster City Council spends 32m a year on waste collection and street cleaning.

*An estimated 122 tonnes of cigarette butts, matchsticks and cigarette-related litter is dropped every day across the country. (source Tidy Britain)

*2,700 tonnes of cigarette litter is dropped on London's streets each year. This is the equivalent of 6,750 million cigarette ends. (source: GLA)

*Westminster City Council collects 20,000 tonnes of street waste each year of which 9000 tonnes is dropped litter and 11,000 tonnes is litter bin waste.

*Westminster City Council's Go Green agenda comprises a raft of initiatives to help tackle global warming and establish its reputation as an environmental champion.

 

The List of Shame (not in any order):

 

South West

Defra, Millbank

Victoria Coach Station (Elizabeth St elevation)

The Victoria Plaza Hotel, Lower Belgrave St

Passport Office, Eccleston Sq St Georges Tavern 14 Belgrave Rd

Café Nero, Wilcox Place

The Gallery, Lupus St (public house)

Channel 4, Horseferry Rd and also Channel 4 building, 11 Francis St

 

South East

West-one shopping complex, Oxford Street, above Bond Street Station

Transport For London, London Underground HQ, Petty France (next to St James's Park Station)

Stafford Street o/s Pret-A-Manger

South Side Berkeley Square

1-11 John Adams Street

Comedy Store, Oxendon Street, by the side of the Prince Of Wales Theatre.

Empire Casino, Leicester Square.

McDonalds Restaurant, Whitcomb Street,

Leicester Street, outside both Empire Casino and Number One Leicester Square.

 

North east

Bricklayers Arms - Berkeley Mews W1

BNP Paribas - 10 Harewood Avenue W1

Caffe Nour - Duke St - Picton Place

Tesco - 9 Circus Rd NW8

Baker St tube - Baker St towards Park Rd

 

North west

Coral bookmakers, Westbourne Grove

Waitrose, Porchester Road

William Hill bookmakers, three sites in Westbourne Grove, Edgware Road and Queensway

Costa Coffee, 101 Edgware Rd

Costcutters, 280 Harrow Road

 

Night time problem spots:

Heaven Club, Villiers Street.

Greencoat Boy, Artillery Row

The Nag's Head, James Street WC2

Renowned, Maccclesfield Street

Motion Bar, Embankment.

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