Tories vote against cleaner neighbourhoods (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

Tories vote against cleaner neighbourhoods

January 11, 2005 8:00 AM

Conservative MPs last night voted against giving local councils additional powers to tackle fly-tipping, litter, graffiti, fly-posting, dog fouling, nuisance noise and abandoned cars.

They claimed measures in the Government's Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill were unnecessary and the Bill focused "predominantly on urban areas". However these claims were undermined by the revelation that the Bill has received the backing of the National Farmers Union, as well as all three parties, including the Tories, at the Local Government Association.

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Sue Doughty "The Tories are completely wrong to reject this Bill, which will give much stronger protection to our countryside as well as urban areas. They clearly care little about farmers whose land is repeatedly used by fly-tippers. All the evidence that we have seen suggests that the penalties are not strong enough to deal with problems such as fly-tipping, graffiti and the sheer volume of rubbish on our streets."