Seven more people are sharing a court bill of more than £2,700 after failing to pay fines for cycling in Grimsby town centre.
The seven cases were heard at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on Friday 27 November, Friday 4 and Friday 11 December.
Cases against three defendants were proved in their absence. Two were fined £100 and the third was fined £440. All three were ordered to pay £226.04 costs, two were ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge and one was ordered to pay a £44 victim surcharge.
The other four entered guilty pleas. Three were fined £100 and one was fined £150. All four were ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.
Two were ordered to pay costs of £226.04 and two were ordered to pay contributions towards costs of £100 and £150.
North East Lincolnshire Council has successfully prosecuted more than 30 people since November for cycling in a prohibited cycling zone in breach of a Public Space Protection Order.
All the defendants had been issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice for cycling in the pedestrianised area on Victoria Street.
The fixed penalty notice is an alternative to prosecution and allows 14 days to pay. Anyone who chooses not to pay a fine can be taken to court and prosecuted for the original offence of cycling in a prohibited zone.
A Public Space Protection Order was introduced in July 2019 banning people from cycling in the pedestrian area.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:
“We will fine you if you put other people at risk by cycling in Grimsby’s pedestrian zone.
“Those who choose not to pay the £100 fixed penalty notice, find themselves facing a larger bill in court. I’m grateful to the courts for supporting our stance.
“Shoppers, businesses and people working in the town centre often complain about nuisance cycling in the town centre.
“There’s no need to cycle in the pedestrian area – Bethlehem Street and Osborne Street are literally a few metres away and run parallel to it.”
Enforcement patrols
Officers from Local Authority Support carry out patrols and gather evidence which is passed on to Doncaster Council who issue the fixed penalties on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council.
Private patrols were introduced after a wide-ranging public consultation in 2017. People said they wanted to see more enforcement against those who litter and don’t pick up after their dogs.
This was followed by the introduction a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for a number of other offences in summer 2019.
North East Lincolnshire Council works closely with other organisations, including the police and local businesses, to enforce legislation and help keep the town centre safe.
As well as littering, dog control and cycling offences, officers can also enforce against smoking in commercial vehicles.
North East Lincolnshire introduced private patrols for littering and dog fouling in November 2018, as part of an agreement with Doncaster Council. Officers started issuing fines for cycling in the pedestrian area in July 2019.
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