Home / Environment / £30K Paan Mess: Brent's Cleanup Battle
£30K Paan Mess: Brent's Cleanup Battle
30 Nov
Summary
- Brent Council spends over £30,000 annually on paan stain cleanups.
- Paan stains are difficult to remove, resisting high-powered cleaning jets.
- Enforcement officers will patrol hotspots, with fines up to £100.
Brent Council is confronting a significant clean-up cost, exceeding £30,000 each year, due to paan spitting. This habit, prevalent in areas like Wembley, leaves pervasive reddish-brown stains on pavements and buildings that are notoriously difficult to erase, even with high-pressure washing.
The council has declared a "zero-tolerance approach" to the issue, citing the substantial expense and the environmental damage caused by the paan residue. To combat the problem, enforcement officers will be deployed in known hotspots. Individuals caught spitting paan face penalties, including fixed penalty notices of up to £100.
Local opposition has criticized the council's measures as insufficient, advocating for stricter enforcement and even a ban on chewing tobacco due to its health and environmental impacts. The council, however, remains firm in its commitment to tackling the mess and deterring offenders through fines.
