By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Fines for taking children out of school during term time have been slammed by parents – but MPs insist youngsters’ attendance is crucial.
It was revealed last week that the number of fines issued to parents in Cheshire in the first year following a high-profile court battle soared compared to previous years.
Council chiefs are seeking stronger powers to tackle dog fouling which plagues the streets and open spaces of Nantwich and Crewe.
Cheshire East Council wants to impose a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) on all its public spaces.
A Nantwich headteacher has hit out at the use of “punitive” fines for parents who take their children out of school for holidays.
Mary Hennessy Jones, head at Pear Tree Primary in Stapeley, spoke after a High Court ruling backed Isle of Wight parent Jon Platt for refusing to pay a £120 fine after he took his daughter out last year.
Cheshire Police issued 1,600 parking fines when it didn’t have the power to do so, it has emerged.
The errant Fixed Penalty Notices were issued by PCSOs who did not have authority in their contracts to impose them.
New figures show Cheshire East Council wardens dished out just 25 fines for littering across the whole borough in 2013-14. And there were just NINE fixed penalty notices for dog fouling in the region for the same period.
Nantwich Litter Group volunteers are appealing to the town’s dog walkers to clean up their mess. Members of the group say dog poo is still a problem on streets, parks and open spaces.
Former college students from Nantwich are being given the chance to return borrowed books in a fine-free month campaign. The library at South Cheshire College is waiving all fines on any items which are returned late until February half term.
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