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

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Jan 2005

Lib Dem MPs voting to give councils power to tackle litter bugs.

Local Conservative MP, Eleanor Laing, is under fire from the Liberal Democrats for opposing in Parliament important measures to help councils protect the local environment.

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill will grant tough new powers to tackle litter bugs, fly-tippers, fly-posters and other types of antisocial and criminal behaviour that damage the environment.

The Tories have let down local residents and business who are suffering from fly-tipping, graffiti, litter and nuisance noises by failing to support in Parliament this important Bill.

People in Epping Forest have rated tackling rubbish, graffiti and nuisance noise from licensed premises - all things that they want the local Council's to prioritise. This bill will strengthen local powers to do this yet Tory MP's opposed it saying it concentrated on urban issues too much.

The Conservatives are rejecting an opportunity to provide much stronger environmental protection in both town and country. They do not understand the importance of a clean and safe local environment to the quality of people's lives.