Forum Topic

Spitting in public

I read on the Chiswick Forum that they are considering having a petition to consider outlawing spitting in public. I think it is high time a law was passed to ban people from spitting in public. This sounds like a very good idea - I hope our Council does something similar.Spitting is a really disgusting habit and spreads diseases such as TB. Ealing Council please take note!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4567d26 Comments

Agreed, spitting is a filthy habit - not only do people spit out their chewing gum but there are often nasty phlegm patches on the pavements and in the parks. I don't even like to see spitting on to the gutters of roads. In some enlightened countries people who spit in public places are heavily fined - serves 'em right too!

Gerry Tan ● 4512d

A person Turning his head towards a wall could still be said to be spitting into the wind. The wind does not always blow into ones face SUSAN.  The wind can blow in more than one direction and every time I read your silly response I hoped you would be a little more thoughtful before being unkind and bruising with your remarks. Ofcourse if that is how you operate feel free to do so

Os A Whittle ● 4512d

It's now against the law in Enfield.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25039902Come on then Ealing, time to  those 'community officers' working (rather than hiding in groups on Mattock Lane) and give us back cleaner, healthier streets.

Nigel Brooks ● 4513d

There was an old man of DarjeelingWho boarded the bus at East Ealing.A sign on the doorsaid, "Don't spit on the floor."So he stood up and spat on the ceiling.

Rav Mandeep ● 4563d

KimI hate to agree with you (I've expressed that badly) but you are absolutely right.As much as I find 'outsourcing' distasteful, a private company with revenue targets to hit would have a field day enforcing this in many parts of our borough.

Nigel Brooks ● 4563d

I hate to say this as it goes against many of my beliefs, but if these antisocial by-laws and proposed by-laws, spitting, dog fouling, littering, vomiting in the street were subcontracted out to a private firm working on hitting targets, maybe they would be enforced by overzealous officers and we would see a change in attitude. There would be plenty of public support if the result was cleaner public spaces. If they can enforce even the most minute parking offence which frankly does not affect the majority of citizens, over parking on a meter is not a health hazard, pulling in and stopping for 5 seconds to drop off a passenger, then surely they can fine anti social behaviour.And maybe if there was a source of revenue from fining antisocial habits they wouldn't be so much pressure to fine even the smallest parking misdemeanours Without an enforcement strategy all these by-laws are not worth the time that is devoted to them.

Kim Rugg ● 4563d

Bad day today Susan?

Keith Iddon ● 4565d

You're very welcome. Anything that helps you be a bit less silly, do let me know.

Susan Kelly ● 4566d

A very lady-like response. Yes I am guilty on both counts.I am an Old Man and i cannot turn back the years. I am on consideration  "Silly " and old too; as i should have added the word "straight ahead " into the wind. How damm silly of me to think that most people could have observed the act by a person spitting slightly turning towards the left or right and spitting into an empty space ,corner, against a wall,or against a tree.It was silly of me not to have made that clear .So thanks for the reply to my post.

Os A Whittle ● 4566d

You just said 'spitting into the wind', you silly old man, nothing about turning the head first. If you do that, it comes straight back into your face.

Susan Kelly ● 4566d

They are, supposedly, Civil Enforcement Officers so let's see them enforce something other than parking fines.

Nigel Brooks ● 4566d

Os A Whittle is willing to pervert a perfectly clear post  in the middle of an otherwise informative thread. Really ?.....

Phil Kay ● 4566d

Susan Kelly is willing to pay to see  a spitter  turn his/her head to the side and spit into the wind . Really ?.....

Os A Whittle ● 4566d

Why don't we ask Ealing Council what, if anything, they intend to do about this disgusting habit?Maybe give the traffic wardens another little job to do instead of picking on the poor motorist?

Jean F Fernandez ● 4566d

It just shows how cowardly the enforcement methods by the council are.Happy to fine motorists doing something really anti =social like dropping off a passenger and fining for minor infringements which do no harm whatsoever and using stealth.But when it comes to vile anti social actions which cause a health risk and cause lasting damage to the local envirions they don't want to know.Says a lot about the double standards that are rotting our sense of a fair society.

Oliver Gregan ● 4566d

The carpet of chewing gum (and cigarette ends) at bus stops and outside our stations disgusts me too (as well as spitters). You'd only need a couple of officers with the right powers outside Ealing Broadway for a few days to sure up the council's coffers.

Paul James ● 4566d

It's the big lumps of gob and phlegm that are on seats, pavements, shop windows,cars and front gardens that indicate what a bad problem this has become.Really, vileI'll wager that not one soul has been fined for spitting under the boroughs bye-laws in 40 years.

Oliver Gregan ● 4567d

If they are really spitting into the wind, then the spittle will fly back and hit them in the face, which I would pay to see.

Susan Kelly ● 4567d

I second Jean F Fernandez in calling for measures to be adopted against spitting in public and busy areas in a town.It has often made me helplessly Mad to see a passer by spitting into the wind while walking along the highway. The globules of Saliva spat out is carried by the wind and could possibly land on another pedestrian walking close by.It is no only unhygienic but annoying behaviour.  Especially those who chew "PAN" . They add a further dimension to the habit ,they colour the walls and tree trunks against which they aim.

Os A Whittle ● 4567d

Hounslow have put petition posters up on the bus shelters in Lower South Ealing Road and Ealing Road.Spitting is seen by many as a contentious issue.  Way too many who seem to think it is a normal bodliy function and therefore OK.In some places this is the norm and so are the diseases that are spread this way.Don't see these same people performing other bodily functions on the street.None of them seem to have ever heard of a handkerchief which came about as a fashion accessory to combat the plague.It is still a bye-law offence along with dog fouling but seldom enforced.They want to make this a stronger offence which cannot be a bad thing.Brent, Southall and Hounslow have a huge problem with the spitting of Paan which is that rusty red staining seen all over Wembley, Southall ,Hounslow and creeping into most areas. It is a filthy habit and costs a fortune to clean up. Brent have outlawed this but had little impact. They were far too slack in dealing with bad social habits and now it's way too late. Take a walk around the once smart residential streets of Wembley  and the  filth is disgusting almost beyond belief. Shopping streets fare little better.Hounslow is heading the same way and Southall is a bit better. But it needs to be dealt with everywhere.So, sign the petition in Hounslow and push Ealing to do the same. They'll make a lot more revenue than from parked cars!

Oliver Gregan ● 4567d

Great. Another law that will hardly ever be enforced.

Keith Iddon ● 4567d

Sadly it is Viv and TB is on the rise notably with an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains.I think it is a disgusting habit and should be banned outright.Two local London councils already have bans and one, I believe Waltham Forest, have already secured successful prosecutions wen the 'spitters' refused to pay the fixed penalty notices issued to them.

Nigel Brooks ● 4567d

There are more cases of TB in London, Ealing is the highest I heard, so yes it is a health risk.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4567d

It's a nasty habit, though these days I don't think it's a public health issue. I bet vomiting - norovirus- is worse.

Viv Ellis ● 4567d

Have you ever heard of anyone being fined recently for spitting? I certainly have not.Footballers do not set a good example!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4567d

I don't know when it stopped being an offence.  When I was a kid there used to be signs up in the streets warning of a £5 fine for spitting.  That was 50 years ago, so it was quite a lot of money!

Inge Jones ● 4567d