CIWM has produced a new good practice guide that will help both the public and private sector to raise standards of local environmental quality. Environmental Quality: a guide to good practice covers all aspects of the local environment from fly-posting and fly-tipping to dog fouling and abandoned vehicles.
The publication highlights the impact of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act and the new powers and legislation that are available to authorities through its implementation and enforcement, while a section on the legal framework details the powers and duties of all relevant Acts and the effect that their implementation can have on the environment.
However, clearly the mere existence of legislation is not enough to tackle deep-rooted anti-social behaviour for which the reasons are many and varied and towards which public attitudes can be complex and irrational. Therefore the major focus of the guide is a series of case studies which highlight how particular problems have been tackled in different parts of the UK as well as overseas.
The case studies illustrate the value of effective partnerships and creative solutions with examples including a web-site facility for reporting of fly-tipping in Walsall; a free surrender scheme for residents with end of life vehicles in Middlesbrough; a system of yellow and red cards for litter louts in the London Borough of Epson and Ewell; and sticking ‘Cancelled’ notices across illegal posters in Oadby and Wigston.
Tom Ellis, CIWM technical officer and a member of the Local Environmental Quality Working Group responsible for the publication commented: ‘Incoming legislation has put the focus firmly back on local environmental quality with some of the biggest changes since the Environmental Protection Act of 1990, making this publication very timely.’
Steve Lee, CIWM chief executive commented: ‘Grassroots recognition of the importance of Local Environmental Quality management and protection has at last been matched by national level priority and action. This CIWM best practice guidance is therefore both timely and important. I would like to congratulate the team who pulled it together and all those responsible for the practices presented as case studies. I would also like to commend this report to LEQ practitioners everywhere.’
Environmental Quality: a guide to good practice can be ordered at a cost of £20 from the Publications Department (E-mail: publications@ciwm.co.uk Tel: 01604 620426)
