BIRKENHEAD has been revealed as the litter capital of Wirral as figures show more fines for dropped rubbish and dog fouling were given out there than the rest of the borough’s towns and villages put together.

In total, 340 – half of the total 676 environmental Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) handed out in Wirral in January this year – were issued the town.

The figures come from a Freedom of Information request submitted by Siobhan Grindley and made public on WhatDoTheyKnow.com, and also show that almost 90% of the fines overall were given out for dropped cigarettes.

All of the FPNs were issued by staff working for Kingdom – the controversial environmental protection service employed by Wirral council, which also operates in Liverpool.

Here are the numbers of FPNs given out in your area in January, and the reasons for them:

  • Bebington: 39 for cigarette litter
  • Bidston: one for cigarette litter
  • Birkenhead: 340 – 306 for cigarette litter, 18 for dog fouling and 16 for other litter
  • Bromborough: 17 for other litter
  • Claughton: one for cigarette litter
  • Eastham: seven – three for cigarette litter, four for dog fouling
  • Greasby: two for cigarette litter
  • Heswall: 21 – 18 for cigarette litter, three for dog fouling
  • Hoylake: one for cigarette litter
  • Irby: two – one for cigarette litter, one for dog fouling
  • Leasowe: one for cigarette litter
  • Liscard: 13 for cigarette litter
  • Meols: one for cigarette litter
  • Moreton: eight for cigarette litter
  • New Brighton: nine – six for cigarette litter, two for dog fouling, one for other litter
  • Oxton: three for cigarette litter
  • Pensby: four for cigarette litter
  • Prenton: 18 for cigarette litter
  • Rock Ferry: 73 – 70 for cigarette litter, one for dog fouling, two for other litter
  • Seacombe: one for cigarette litter
  • Thingwall: five – four for cigarette litter, one for dog fouling
  • Thurstaston: 1 for other litter
  • Tranmere: 14 – 12 for cigarette litter, two for dog fouling
  • Upton: 38 – 34 for cigarette litter, one for dog fouling, three for other litter
  • Wallasey: 18 – 16 for cigarette litter, one for dog fouling, one for other litter
  • West Kirby: 38 – 37 for cigarette litter, one for dog fouling

The stats also showed of the hundreds of FPNs, 78 were appealed, leading to 57 of them being withdrawn.

Responding to the figures, Green Party Cllr Pat Cleary, whose ward is Birkenhead and Tranmere, said: "Everyone wants a cleaner environment and its right that people who deliberately drop litter are subject to a fine.

"Nevertheless, these figures raise serious issues about using private contractors to administer litter fines.

"It's clear that Kingdom continue to target smokers who account for 90% of the fines.

"The contract is therefore mainly about maximising revenue rather than tidying up Wirral."

Wirral council has been contacted for comment.