Lambeth will become a "fly-tippers paradise"

3.52.54pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 23rd Jan 2007

Labour's plans for new charges will lead to more dumped and fly-tipped rubbish

Lambeth is set to be once again a fly-tipper's paradise with dirty and potholed streets following the latest package of measures by the borough's new Labour administration.

Charges approved on Monday by the Labour cabinet include paying for the removal of bulky household items, such as white goods and unwanted domestic furniture - currently a free service for six collections per year. In addition, residents will have to pay up to £20 for new or replacement wheelie bins.

And the number of inspections on residents on roads will be reduced from once every three months to once every six months, leading to fewer pothole and pavement repairs. Plus there is an end to the guarantee that streets will be cleaned at least twice a week as Labour proposes to cut the number of times a street is swept.

The budget report stated: "In terms of street cleansing the Council requires the contractor to sweep roads according to a fixed schedule, which has meant that work has been carried out when there is no environmental need. It is felt that changes can be made which would reduce street cleansing costs but still match local environmental quality needs". This means less frequent streetcleaning under Labour and inevitably dirtier streets.

The Council's own performance indicators already point to dirtier streets after the high standards achieved under the Liberal Democrat administration.

A further Labour blow to the quality of the environment is slashing the number of air pollution monitoring sites from 10 to just 4 for the whole borough.

"Residents can to look forward to a return to dirty streets riddled with broken pavements and potholes, which get bigger as they wait for someone to discover them," said Lib Dem Enivronment Spokesperson Cllr Diana Braithwaite.

"These cuts and charges fly in the face of Labour's mantra 'We're on your side!' as residents are forced to dig deep to pay increased charges on top of a council tax increase of 4.99%. Lambeth will once again become a fly-tippers paradise, with unwanted mattresses and sofas dumped in our parks and on our dirty potholed streets, and the added bonus of polluted air".