Tories give green light to fly-tippers, anti-social and criminal behaviour

10.05.00pm GMT Thu 13th Jan 2005

Local Conservative MP Tim Yeo has opposed important measures to help councils protect our local environment.

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

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for South Suffolk, Kathy Pollard, said:

"By voting to reject this important Bill, Conservative MPs have let down local people, including the farming community, who are continually having to cope with the aftermath of fly-tipping."

The Conservatives have said they don't think the measures in the Bill are needed in rural areas. This is an astonishing claim. The National Farmers Union is supporting the bill, as are all three major parties at the local government association.

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