Tories Give Green Light to Litter-Bugs, Fly-Tippers and Anti-Social Behaviour

1.11.06pm GMT Wed 12th Jan 2005

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has expressed his dismay that Conservative MPs in Parliament have voted against giving local councils much needed 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". But 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.

Commenting, Don said:

"Local communities desperately need more powers to deal with fly-tipping, graffiti, fly-posting and other environmental scourges that blight our surroundings - but the Tories seem to disagree.

"The Tories are completely wrong to reject this Bill, which will give much stronger protection not only to our countryside, but to urban areas as well,

"They do not understand the importance of a clean and safe local environment to the quality of people's lives and 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.

"This is further evidence of a Tory Party that's out of touch and in disarray"