Tories give Green Light to Litter Bugs, Fly Tippers and Anti-Social Behaviour says Robinson

8.25.08pm GMT Mon 17th Jan 2005

Stephen clearing litter. "It's impossible to underestimate the depressing effect litter has on us all."

Lib Dem candidate Stephen Robinson has criticised our Conservative MP for opposing plans to protect local residents suffering noise from pubs and clubs as well as farmers and businesses plagued by fly-tipping, fly-posting and abandoned cars.

He said, "The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill would grant tough new powers to tackle litter bugs, fly-tippers, fly-posters and other types of antisocial and criminal behaviour that damage the environment."

The West Chelmsford Lib Dem parliamentary candidate went on, "Simon Burns has let us all down by voting to reject this important Bill, despite claiming to boost measures to clean up Chelmsford during the last election. Yet when given the chance to vote for new powers to do just that, the Conservative party voted against. As usual, Conservative election promises cannot be trusted.

"The Conservatives have said they don't think the measures in the Bill are needed in rural areas. This is an astonishing claim considering the National Farmers Union support. Do they live in the real world? They clearly care little about farmers whose land is repeatedly blighted by fly-tippers".

"The Conservatives are rejecting an opportunity to provide much stronger environmental protection in both town and country. They do not understand the importance of a clean and safe local environment to our quality of life".