EIGHTEEN months ago our city looked dirty and very unkempt.

It is now looking so much cleaner and the council is spending a great deal of our money on cleaning up the city.

This was a promise made at the last local elections but it’s a job in progress. I think we are just beginning to win the war.

The council has provided more bins all around the city to help us, the general public, throw our rubbish and not drop it on the pavements.

I think people don’t realise that cigarette butts are rubbish too, so please throw them away in a bin.

If you are caught now dropping litter, including cigarette butts, then you could be fined £75.

Salisbury City Council has employed two enforcement officers who can issue fixed penalty notices to anyone caught dropping litter or who doesn't clean up after their dog.

The idea of employing the two enforcement officers is not to make money for the council, but to help keep the city clean.

The fines will hopefully cover the employment costs and the two officers are not going to be paid for the number of fines issued, they are being employed to help us to keep Salisbury clean.

Liz Sirman

City Councillor for St Edmund & Milford Ward