Curbs on kerb litter

Published: 3 June, 2011

• IT seems the battle to keep our roadsides clear of litter is never-ending. 

This situation is not helped by the current legal loophole that lets litter louts get away with it scot-free. Currently, our council can’t take effective action against people who throw litter out of their cars because the existing law requires it to prove the identity of the individual who threw the litter, rather than just proving that litter was thrown from the car in the first place.

I support the work being done by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Local Government Association and Keep Britain Tidy to amend the existing law so that whoever owns the vehicle is responsible for what is thrown out of it. Similar to the way laws on speeding, wearing seat belts and fly-tipping work.

I’m sure there are hundreds of councils, citizens and motorists who are sick of roadside litter. Clearing up this litter is expensive and dangerous.

This simple change to the law would provide our council with an effective deterrent against the careless and thoughtless behaviour of litterers. 

I would like to encourage readers to write to their MP about the issue. 

There is a draft letter available at www.cpre.org.uk.

LINDA BERRY 
Whistler Street, N5