Elderly woman fined £300 by ‘ruthless’ council after leaving charity donation bag outside her home
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An elderly woman was fined £300 for leaving her charity donation bag outside her home.
Barbara Wheeler, 73, left a bag of clothes outside her home in Tonbridge, Kent, for a charity to collect.
He later received a letter from the council threatening legal action and a fine of up to £1,000 for leaving the bag on his doorstep.
Her 84-year-old neighbor Margaret also left a bag for donations in front of her house on January 29.
A letter was also sent to him threatening fines and legal action.
The two women were told they must pay a £300 fixed penalty notice within 14 days.
‘The council has gone mad,’ Ms Wheeler said, adding: ‘They are using brutal methods.’
Women were sent a letter from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council stating that ‘littering litter is a crime’.
Barbara Wheeler, 73, and her neighbor Margaret, 84, were fined by the local council for leaving charity donations outside their home.
Ms. Wheeler said her neighbor was afraid of a city clerk who said he had a camera and that anything he said could be used as evidence in court.
He said Margaret was too scared to come to the door anymore.
Ms Wheeler said she had warned neighbors to leave collection bags on their doorsteps and feared she would still have to pay the fine.
The council spokesman said BBC News It was stated that the issue was discussed with the contractor who published the letter.
The council said it was understood the experience had been ‘distressing’ for residents.
They added: ‘At this time, we have had no direct contact with any of the ladies or anyone associated with them, but have spoken to our contractor who is currently looking into this matter.’
