WE all want a clean and tidy city. Litter-strewn streets, graffiti and derelict buildings demean residents' quality of life and devalue the visitor experience.

Concern about the state of the city prompted the Liberal Democrat council to launch York Pride.

It has been an impressive campaign. City centre streets are notably cleaner. The on-the-spot fines for dropping sweet wrappers and cigarette butts are a long-overdue fightback against the litter louts.

Problems remain, of course: the council is investigating its policy after a row over the cleaning of gullies and footpaths in certain areas.

But the York Pride momentum received a boost today. The council has tabled a further range of measures to continue the city clean-up, most of which are welcome. These include an abandoned car amnesty and new powers to tackle litter on private land, spray painters and fly posters.

The most eye-catching idea is also the most contentious: £100 fines for people who put out their bin bags too early. This practice leads to a smelly mess because cats and other animals rip open the bags and scatter the contents.

However, there is a whiff of unfairness about a scheme which targets only those households who are denied the benefit of wheelie bins enjoyed by other residents.

There are occasions when putting the rubbish out early is unavoidable: before a holiday for example. How could a street environment officer prove the bin bag loitering outside your house contained your rubbish?

If the council does go ahead with this dubious scheme, perhaps it could offer a carrot to go with the stick: extra refuse collection days, perhaps, or a council tax rebate if the rubbish is left uncollected.

Updated: 10:03 Thursday, September 02, 2004