Clean Neighbourhoods
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act was given the Royal Assent on 7 April, one of the very last Bills to become Law under the last Parliament.
The Act gives local authorities and the Environment Agency more effective powers to deal with poor environmental quality, environmental crime and anti-social behaviour. Included are issues such as litter (including discarding chewing gum and smoking materials), graffiti, abandoned cars, fly tipping, illegal vehicle repairs, light pollution and noise nuisance including intruder alarms and night time noise from licensed premises.
Anti-graffiti action, amongst other things, extends local authority powers to deal with the sale of spray paints to children. It also strengthens local authority powers on dealing with fly-posting, including prosecution of those benefiting from fly-posting and recovery of costs of removing the illegal posters.
Abandoned vehicles and fly tipping (dumping rubbish anywhere rather than taking it to an approved site) makes an area look and feel unsafe. Local authorities are given the power to remove abandoned cars from streets immediately and the measures on fly tipping mean that those caught can no longer use the excuse that they are acting under their employer's instructions.
Penalties for fly-tipping offences are increased to £50,000, with maximum fines being given to repeat offenders. Recent figures from a Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs database reveal that clearance of illegally dumped rubbish costs local authorities throughout England almost £ 100 a minute.
And what about abandoned shopping trolleys? Local authorities are enabled to recover the costs of dealing with abandoned shopping trolleys from their owners. However it may be quicker to contact the shop/ supermarket in the first instance, as it is in their interest to recover the trolleys more quickly than the council.
It is early days but with the authorities being allowed to retain revenue from fines under this new Act, no doubt this law will be embraced enthusiastically by local councils and the Environment Agency alike and we can look forward to cleaner and safer communities.
Spring 2005
The Act gives local authorities and the Environment Agency more effective powers to deal with poor environmental quality, environmental crime and anti-social behaviour. Included are issues such as litter (including discarding chewing gum and smoking materials), graffiti, abandoned cars, fly tipping, illegal vehicle repairs, light pollution and noise nuisance including intruder alarms and night time noise from licensed premises.
Anti-graffiti action, amongst other things, extends local authority powers to deal with the sale of spray paints to children. It also strengthens local authority powers on dealing with fly-posting, including prosecution of those benefiting from fly-posting and recovery of costs of removing the illegal posters.
Abandoned vehicles and fly tipping (dumping rubbish anywhere rather than taking it to an approved site) makes an area look and feel unsafe. Local authorities are given the power to remove abandoned cars from streets immediately and the measures on fly tipping mean that those caught can no longer use the excuse that they are acting under their employer's instructions.
Penalties for fly-tipping offences are increased to £50,000, with maximum fines being given to repeat offenders. Recent figures from a Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs database reveal that clearance of illegally dumped rubbish costs local authorities throughout England almost £ 100 a minute.
And what about abandoned shopping trolleys? Local authorities are enabled to recover the costs of dealing with abandoned shopping trolleys from their owners. However it may be quicker to contact the shop/ supermarket in the first instance, as it is in their interest to recover the trolleys more quickly than the council.
It is early days but with the authorities being allowed to retain revenue from fines under this new Act, no doubt this law will be embraced enthusiastically by local councils and the Environment Agency alike and we can look forward to cleaner and safer communities.
Spring 2005
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Registered with the Civic Trust uMember of London Forum
Registered with the Civic Trust uMember of London Forum
Sydenham Society
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