Councils back calls to end car litter loophole
LGA media release 18 July 2012
Responding to the publication of Lord Marlesford's Bill in the House of Lords to close the loophole that allows people who litter from vehicles to dodge fines, Councillor Clyde Loakes, Vice-Chairman of the Local Government Association's Environment Board, said:
"The LGA is pleased to see the issue of littering being discussed in Parliament. Currently, because of a legal loophole, councils are prevented from taking action against people who drop rubbish from cars, vans and lorries. The fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts and empty bottles that blight the nation's roads, verges and hedgerows are not only unsightly, but also difficult, costly and dangerous to remove.
"Every year, hundreds of millions of pounds' of taxpayers' money is wasted cleaning up after people who don't dispose of their litter responsibly. Giving councils the enforcement powers to tackle irresponsible drivers who allow people to throw rubbish from their vehicles will mean some of this money can be saved and ploughed back into important things like caring for the elderly, looking after vulnerable children and fixing our roads.
"Government took a step in the right direction allowing councils in London to clampdown on litter lout drivers, but local authorities across the rest of the country now need to be able to tackle this national problem too.
"We are, however, concerned that the bill is also looking to create new and unnecessary paperwork for councils who would be forced to carry out time-consuming assessments of roadside clean-ups. Local authorities would much rather spend their time and resources on getting the job done and let residents be the judge of whether this comes up to scratch."
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Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: LGA Media Office, Telephone: 020 7664 3333
Notes to editors
- Lord Marlesford introduced a Private Members Bill in the House of Lords today to give councils greater powers to tackle roadside litter louts.
New bill introduced to tackle roadside litter (on the CPRE website) - A 'Keep Britain Tidy' study found roads and verges are some of the most littered parts of the country. The research showed 22 per cent of lorry drivers and 20 per cent of all motorists admitted to throwing rubbish from their vehicles in the previous six months. For full reports visit the Keep Britain Tidy website:
Keep Britain Tidy
21 August 2012
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