Companies who hand out unwanted leaflets and stick flyers under car windscreens in Northampton could soon be handed fines in return.
Northampton Borough Council will today discuss the possible introduction of new powers which would ban leafleting in town centre problem areas such as Bridge Street, The Drapery and Gold Street.
Council experts have identified the three areas as t
rouble spots which regularly become cluttered with litter.
In a report on the possible introduction of the new powers, the council's senior environmental health officer, Tim Croot, said: "The purpose of the legislation is to help control the litter problem created by the distribution of such free printed matter, which is often discarded by people it is given to. Some parts of the town, especially around Bridge Street, Gold Street and The Drapery can become carpeted with discarded flyers that present a considerable cleaning task and give a poor impression of the area."
If the new rules were brought into place, people found handing out leaflets in areas where it was banned could be fined up to £80.
The fines would also be given to people who left piles of leaflets for people to pick up and to firms who stick flyers under people's car windscreens.
Councillor David Garlick (Lib Dem, Headlands) is a member of the committee which will discuss the plans tonight.
But he warned a balance had to be struck between preventing littering and allowing people to promote their business.
He said: "If is stops them leaving tonnes of litter all over the town centre streets, obviously that would be beneficial.
"But I do have a lot of sympathy for people trying to make a living, although you don't want that to result in there being litter left all over the town centre.
"So far, I would say I'm undecided on whether we should go ahead with it or not, but it does seem sensible."
If the new rules were brought into place, they would not prevent people from handing out leaflets promoting charities, political parties or ideas or religious beliefs.
The issue will be discussed by members of the borough council's scrutiny committee at the Guildhall in the centre of Northampton from 6pm tonight.
