People who drop cigarette butts can claim back £50 if they give up smoking

by Chris Hunter

Smokers are being offered shopping vouchers from the NHS and Maidstone council if they flick cigarette butts on the streets of the County Town.

While other litter louts will still face a £75 fine, those who discard cigarettes have the chance to claim back £50 in vouchers through a "Quit Club" scheme offered by the council and Kent Community Health NHS Trust.

Town centre manager Bill Moss has slammed the scheme as madness and a waste of taxpayers' money.

"While I accept alternative ways of trying to stop people smoking have to be found, I feel this is utter madness," he said.

"What a waste of money. I'm embarrassed that this is being introduced in our town."

Launching in time for Christmas, the Quit Club will begin in October, to coincide with 'Stoptober' - an NHS national quit smoking campaign.

Under the plan, littering smokers hit with a £75 penalty notice can claim the vouchers if they attend a free seven-week NHS stop smoking course and manage to stop smoking.

Graham Thomas, from the Kent Community Health NHS Trust (KCHT) stop smoking team, said the course would provide advice and practical support.

"Anyone participating will have a carbon monoxide reading taken each week to prove that they are no longer smoking," he said. "When they complete the course and have paid the littering fine they will receive the vouchers, which can be spent in Maidstone."

Cllr Marion Ring, Maidstone council’s cabinet member for environment, said: "This scheme not only helps someone to recoup some of their penalty charge, it also offers them a lifeline – literally – to a smoke-free future."

Anyone who has received a penalty notice for smoking-related littering in August will also be eligible for the scheme, if they have paid their fixed penalty notice.