Annette Brooke MP Presses Government to Take Action on Roadside Littering
January 19, 2012 5:50 PM
Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has pressed the Government to take more action in fighting and preventing littering along roadsides. Annette raised the issue during Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Oral Questions in the House of Commons this morning.
Annette first praised those in her constituency that voluntarily pick up litter, citing Canford Heath Community Litter Pickers. She then asked Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what more will she would do to empower local councils to take effective action against people in vehicles who are responsible for roadside littering. The question raised audible approval from across the house.
In response Mrs Spelman accepted that the problem was a serious one and cited a number of potential actions. She accepted the need for a broad approach to the issue and said that, "we have to start in schools by educating children and taking them with us on litter picks, because it then dawns on them what a nuisance this is."
She also highlighted a private members bill currently going through Parliament which would make littering from vehicles a civil offence. If implemented at a trial stage, Mrs Spelman said, "we should look at the efficacy of that measure to see what wider lessons we can learn."
Mrs Spelman was also keen to point out the actions the Government has already been taking. She reaffirmed support for the Keep Britain Tidy's "Love Where You Live" campaign. She also said, "we are cracking down on fly-tippers by introducing powers to seize the vehicles of suspected offenders and are working with the court authorities on increased sentencing."
After leaving the chamber Annette said, "This is an issue of real concern to my constituents and for communities across the country. The selfishness of motorists who blight our landscape in this way is a cause of great anger. I welcome the Secretary of State's comments, although when dealing with roadside littering, we must always keep safety as the number one priority. I am glad the Government is onboard in tackling this and I look forward to a proactive approach."
Question and Answer:
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD): What steps she is taking to tackle littering and fly-tipping. [90496]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman): Changing behaviour is the key on such environmental issues. That is why the Government supports the national fly-tipping prevention group and initiatives such as Keep Britain Tidy's "Love Where You Live" campaign, which I launched with Kirstie Allsopp last autumn. We are cracking down on fly-tippers by introducing powers to seize the vehicles of suspected offenders and are working with the court authorities on increased sentencing.
Annette Brooke: I thank the Secretary of State for her answer. I congratulate all those involved in community litter picks, including those at Canford Heath in my constituency. Litter alongside the busy roads that link our communities is a blot on the landscape. What more will she do to empower local councils to take effective action against people in vehicles who are responsible for such littering?
Mrs Spelman: I freely acknowledge that that is a problem. When I jog around the lanes where I live in the countryside, it appalls me to see what has been dropped casually out of car windows. It is systematically cleared by the council, but within a very short period it is back. This is about changing behaviour. We have to start in schools by educating children and taking them with us on litter picks, because it then dawns on them what a nuisance this is. In addition, an interesting opportunity is presented by a private Bill that is going through Parliament, which will enable London borough councils to tackle the problem of littering from vehicles by making it a civil offence. We should look at the efficacy of that measure to see what wider lessons we can learn.
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