Weeks after Ealing Council apologised for slapping a resident with a fine for pouring coffee down a drain , its fines team have been criticised once more after an elderly woman was asked to pay £80 after feeding pigeons in a park.
The 71-year-old, who has requested not to be named, said she was ripping off crumbs to feed pigeons in Haven Green on December 15 last year.
She was approached by enforcement officers from Ealing Council and given an £80 fine for littering.
Getwestlondon has seen the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), which reads: "As an authorised officer of London Borough of Ealing I have reason to believe that on 15 December 2016 10:54 you committed an offence as below within the area of London Borough of Ealing.
"Location: At Grass Verge, Haven Green, Ealing.
"Offence: Illegal deposit of litter - (Food)
"Particulars of the offence are as follows: Did drop leave and walk away from bead (sic)."
The woman's daughter, who did not want to be named, said her mother was left devastated by the incident because bird feeding is one of her few hobbies.
She said: "She was tearing a few crumbs for the pigeons.
"She got approached and was told she was littering and that she would have to pay a fine.
"She said the birds had already eaten the bread crumbs.
"She does not get much enjoyment out of life apart from going to the shop, meeting friends and feeding the birds.
"It has made her sad. She doesn't get up to much in daily life really and it is something I felt she should not penalised for."
An Ealing Council spokesman said: "An on-the-spot fixed-penalty notice (FPN) was issued after officers witnessed a shredded loaf of bread being thrown on the floor.
"Discarded food and food containers account for a significant proportion of on-street litter which has to be constantly cleared by the council.
"Dropping food, even to feed pigeons is a health risk and can attract pest species such as rats as well as being unpleasant for other residents.
"We are committed to ensuring that our streets and open spaces are litter-free, attractive places enjoyed by visitors and residents and we strongly discourage people from throwing food on the ground for seagulls and pigeons."
Earlier this year, pensioner Sue Peckett was fined £80 for pouring a cup of coffee she did not like the taste of down a drain .
She lost her appeal, but after getwestlondon approached the council for comment it refunded and apologised to her and admitted a mistake had been made.
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