Walsall Council cancels pensioner litter picker's fine after massive outpouring of support

Alan Davies forgot his walking stick and cushion after his daily walk and litter pick on Longwood Lane, Aldridge, on September 6 and was shocked to receive a fine by Walsall Council and threats of prosecution last week.

After being unable to speak to anyone at Walsall Council the pensioner's friends contacted the Express & Star asking to publicise his plight. Outraged readers sent messages of support for the litter picker who also fixed the benches in his own time at Hill Head Park

John Chryssides said: "I believe it is important that Council employees, like everyone else, should exercise common sense in all their actions and decisions. This has clearly not happened in the case of Mr Davies. "To act in this way is to harass an innocent person, as well as to waste public funds."

Chris Gadsbey added: "Please add my support to those in support of Alan's need to have this ridiculous penalty cancelled."

Wendy Rodgers commented: "I support Alan Davies. It seems very strange that the council honed in on that particular area when the streets of Walsall are strewn with litter.

"My mother was only saying yesterday that there was a fridge freezer that had been dumped on the other side of her street she has reported it but it has been there for weeks, and opposite where I work in Birchills there are mattresses, beds, sofas, fridges illegally dumped on a regular basis. They have focused on a man who is actually proud of where he lives and is trying to keep the area clean and tidy."

Jean Woodhouse was "appalled" after reading about Alan's fine.

She said: "To anyone who has half a brain it is obvious that an innocent mistake has been made, surely when examining the CCTV footage it was clear that an elderly man had accidentally left his walking stick which he obviously needed. If he had left a bin bag full of rubbish then he would have deserved a fine but for a simple mistake he is being punished.

"Shame on you Walsall Council, have some common sense and drop the fine and apologise to this man."

Walsall Council heeded the outrage about the ticket and have apologised to Alan and rescinded the fine. 

A council spokesman told the Express & Star: “We recognise the specific circumstances around this incident and would like to apologise profusely to Mr Davies. We can confirm that the fixed penalty notice has been rescinded after a further review of CCTV footage."

And the council praised those who give up their time to litter pick the area and make it a better place to live.

The spokesman added: "Walsall Council respects and values the work and commitment of all our litter-picking volunteers. They play a key role in our defence against fly-tipping and littering. The location in question, Longwood Lane and Hayhead Wood is a hot spot for fly-tipping and the CCTV camera was put in place after complaints from the local community. 

"Fly-tipping and littering is a major problem in Walsall and remains a priority for the council.”

Alan was delighted after finding out the fine had been cancelled.

He said: "This is great news, thanks to everyone who supported me. The deadline to pay was Friday and I was getting worried. I might carry on picking up litter now."