A leading councillor today backed £50 on-the-spot fines for people who spit their chewing gum out on the pavement.
Police community support officers will be given permission to hand out the £50 fines and smokers should also beware because the new penalties will also apply to cigarette ends and matches.
Collages of flattened gum can been seen across south Essex and the nuisance is already starting to blight the area's regeneration projects.
Southend councillor David Garston said: "We have seen chewing gum begin to spoil the work on the High Street in Southend already.
"We have included a treatment on the High Street which makes it easier to clean gum off, but this money could be better spent elsewhere.
"Gum and graffiti are the enemy."
The Government has decided to get tough on the culprits after shelling out £500million last year to remove gum from Britain's streets.
By defining gum as litter under the law, many councils could raise thousands of pounds in extra revenue by stamping hard on the culprits.
Published Friday August 6, 2004
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