John Battle Backs New Clean Up Powers

John Battle MP today called for the powers proposed in the new Environmental Bill (Monday Jan 10th) to be agreed and implemented quickly. The Environmental Bill includes new powers to remove abandoned cars from the streets immediately and new powers to deal with fly-tipping, fly-posting and litter.

He said, “Today the Government has set out a number of tough new measures to clean up our communities and get tough on those who litter and cause a nuisance for the rest of us.”

“These include;

New powers to remove abandoned cars from the streets immediately before they can become eyesores which attract criminal behaviour.

New powers to gate nuisance alleyways that attract anti-social behaviour.

New powers to deal with fly-tipping, fly-posting and litter.

New measures to help local authorities deal with noise from burglar alarms and pubs.”

"I know people in my West Leeds constituency and across the city will welcome these new powers.”

“I will be working hard to make sure these measures are agreed sooner rather than later, so that the police, council and other local groups can get on with the job of making Leeds a safer, cleaner place to live.”

Secretary of State Margaret Beckett said:

"Environmental damage such as graffiti, fly-posting and general littering is a menace that is becoming all too prevalent, not just in inner cities but in many communities - urban and rural. It creates or adds to a community's sense of neglect and makes people fear that no-one cares for their neighbourhood.“

"This is a practical Bill which we have brought forward following requests from local authorities, and will go a long way to help them and other agencies tackle the problem.”

"It is a key part of the Government's overall drive to help our communites become cleaner, safer and greener. And it will help rid our streets of the awful blight of rubbish while stamping-out low-level environmental crime.“

On 7 December 2004 the Government formally introduced the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill in the House of Commons. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill is available in full on the Parliament website.

The package of measures has been developed over the last two years since the Urban Summit, beginning with the consultation Living Places - Powers, Rights, Responsibilities and most recently with the Clean Neighbourhoods consultation which closed on 24 September 2004.

©John Battle MP 10 January 2005