Fines planned over spitting in the street
It is a disgusting habit which could soon be banned from public places under new plans being drawn up.
Bosses at Cannock Chase Council are considering introducing fines for people caught spitting in the street.
If the initiative is brought in, £50 fixed penalty notices will be handed out to offenders, just as they are for littering or pet owners letting their dogs foul.
A report will be submitted and reviewed by the council's cabinet in the New Year, which if agreed will result in measures that ban spitting across the district.
Councillor Carl Bennett, cabinet member for the environment, said: "We want to attract visitors to the district and if visitors can see that our environment is friendly and clean, then it is more likely they will come back.
"By encouraging visitors into our district it will benefit the local economy."
He added: "We currently issue fixed penalty notices for dog fouling and littering so why not for spitting?
"The council is investing over £400,000 in town centre improvements across the district between 2012-2014.
"We hope by introducing this measure we hope that residents will have more pride in the appearance of the district."
Council spokeswoman Kirsteen Miles added: "This is another initiative that Councillor Bennett wants to take on.
"Other councils have introduced it in other parts of the country. People who spit would be handed fixed penalty notices."
Several councils in the UK are tackling spitting in public places by using the litter provisions in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Waltham Forest, in London, was the first local authority to bring a successful prosecution for spitting in the street. It has handed out more than 25 penalty notices.
