Countryside Alliance supports calls for...
A committee of MPs has warned of "significant regression" on environmental standards under the...
about this blogRead moreYesterday, 15 October, at the London Wetland Centre, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Theresa Villiers, announced the Government's new Environment Bill.
The purpose of Environment Bill is:
There is much in the Bill to welcome, not least the legislation to tackle fly-tipping. Indeed, the Bill does target priorities in the countryside, such as air pollution, single use plastics and climate change.
That being said, we still have serious concerns that the Government has not taken notice of advice from ourselves, other stakeholders, the EFRA Committee concerning the new body to be called the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).
The OEP's is designed to protect and improve the natural environment. However, the OEP may be hampered in its effectiveness because, as drafted, the legislation does not give it sufficient independence to scrutinise the Government or adequate powers of enforcement. It does not represent an equivalent enforcement regime as under current EU arrangements and will not be the world leading environmental body which the Government claims.
The Bill is in its early stages and the Countryside Alliance will monitor its progression through the House of Commons and work with the Government and parliamentarians to ensure the Bill is fit for purpose and the OEP is the body which the Government says it wants.
Sarah Lee, Head of Policy for Countryside Alliance said:
'I am delighted that the Government will use this Bill to tackle fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is causing chaos in the countryside, affecting 67% of farmers and costing them £47m every year.
'Fly-tipping is the only crime where victims have the potential to pay the cost – twice! Once for storing illegal waste through no fault of their own and second for disposing of it. Efforts by the Government to see an end to fly-tipping must be applauded.
'There are concerns that, as drafted, the legislation may not fulfil its aims, especially around the OEP. We will therefore continue to work hard to see concerns are taken notice of and we have a Bill that works.'
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A committee of MPs has warned of "significant regression" on environmental standards under the...
about this blogRead moreThe Countryside Alliance has warned that the Government's proposed new environment watchdog, the...
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