A COUNCIL has defended its decision to fine a young mother £75 for feeding bread to birds while visiting a park’s duck pond with her 17-month-old son.
Sandwell Council said one of its wardens had issued the fixed penalty notice to Vanessa Kelly because she was not in a “designated feeding area” at Smethwick Hall Park.
Ms Kelly, from Oldbury, West Midlands, has described the fine, issued for littering, as a disgrace and pledged to fight to overturn it.
But Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Mahboob Hussain, said local people had been warned not to feed pigeons and waterfowl other than in approved areas.
Claiming that too much food could cause bird populations to grow out of control and also attracted rats, Mr Hussain said: “We have had so many complaints that we decided to create designated feeding areas for birds.’’
