Environment Minister gets tough on untidy neighbourhoods

Environment Minister Edwin Poots today introduced in the Assembly a wide-ranging Bill granting local councils new powers to tackle anti-social activity such as littering, noise and graffiti.

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill is designed to improve the quality of the local environment for everyone in Northern Ireland.

Speaking after introducing Bill, Environment Mr Poots said: “It is a sad fact that, despite ongoing campaigns to try to change attitudes and behaviours, too often too many people in Northern Ireland continue to flout the law and mess up the local environment by, for example, dropping litter, defacing property with graffiti and fly-posters or failing to clean up after their dog has fouled the pavement.”

The Bill was brought forward by Mr Poots following the completion of a public consultation exercise earlier this year.

The Minister added: “This Bill signals the start of our clean neighbourhoods agenda which will give district councils the necessary powers to tackle environmental crime much more effectively.

“Local environmental problems such as litter, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, dog fouling, fly-posting, noise and nuisance are significant concerns for residents across Northern Ireland and the provisions in the Bill will go some way to alleviating those concerns. I believe this Bill’s successful passage through the Assembly will make a difference to many people’s lives.”

Notes to editors:

1. Further information on Clean Neighbourhoods is available on the DOE website
2. The Bill is based on corresponding provisions in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (England and Wales) concerning gating orders; vehicles; litter; graffiti and other defacement; controls on dogs; noise; and various miscellaneous issues including fixed penalty receipts, abandoned shopping and luggage trolleys, statutory nuisances and offences relating to pollution. The provisions concerning graffiti and other defacement and some aspects of the provisions concerning noise are also based on corresponding provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.
3. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of the Environment Press Office on 028 90 540003. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.