New Law to Curb Litter and Fly Tipping

11.43.02am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Jul 2005

Vincent Cable, MP, welcomed the fact that a new law, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act - has come into force in June. Councils and the police now have a new range of powers:

· Fixed penalty notices for dropping litter not just in the street but in people's garden

· Litter fines to be extended to chewing gum and cigarette butts

· New offences for repairing or selling vehicles on the street

· Bigger fines for fly tipping

Vincent Cable said he had voted for the new legislation and looked forward to the council coming forward with suggestions of how they will make use of the new powers. I have numerous complaints about these apparently petty but very annoying aspects of anti-social behaviour. Some peoples lives are made a misery by fly tipping - the Rivermeads estate is a particular victim. There are some residential streets where one individual is running an unofficial garage repair business or car showroom on the street and causing serious annoyance. Some of our main streets in Twickenham are a disgrace, sometimes ankle deep in litter and, until now, it has been assumed that it is the exclusive responsibility of the council, when there should be pressure on litterlouts to stop. There are now new powers; residents will want to see them used".