Tories Deliver Cleaner Streets & Better Recyling Rates

Liberal Democrats claim to be pro-environment. Yet the most recent Audit Commission statistics show that Liberal Democrat councils have dirtier streets and poorer recycling rates than Conservative councils (Source: Audit Commission, Local Authority Performance Indicators 2000-01, February 2002, then correlated with party control data as of June 2000).

Clean Streets Satisfaction (BV indicator 89): Residents are more satisfied with the cleanliness of their streets and neighbourhood in Conservative councils in England. 68.4 per cent of residents are content in Conservative councils, compared to 56.9 per cent in Labour councils, and 63.5 under LibDems.

Waste Collection Satisfaction (BV indicator 90a): Similarly, residents are more satisfied with waste collection services in Conservative councils (86.3 per cent), compared to Labour (82.0 per cent) and Liberal Democrat (84.5 per cent) councils.

Recycling Satisfaction (BV indicator 90b): Residents in Conservative councils are more satisfied with recycling services (70.3 per cent) than Labour councils (61.3 per cent) and Liberal Democrat councils (66.1 per cent).

Recycling Rates (BV indicator 82a): Conservative councils recycle 11.3 per cent of household waste, compared to 7.6 per cent in Labour councils and 11.2 per cent under LibDems.

Composting Rates (BV indicator 82b): Similarly, Conservatives councils compost 2.3 per cent of household waste, relative to 1.0 per cent under Labour and 1.7 per cent under LibDems.

Removing Fly-tips (BV indicator E2): Conservative councils take on average 1.8 days to remove fly-tips, compared to 2.5 days under Labour and 2.0 days under LibDems.

Street Cleanliness (BV indicator E1): Conservative councils have cleaner streets. 92.5 per cent of streets are graded as having acceptable or high standards of cleanliness, compared to 90.6 per cent in Labour councils and 91.6 per cent in Liberal Democrat councils.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, 'Unlike the Lib Dems, we understand the need to deliver on environmental issues.  These performance indicators clearly show opportunist Lib Dem talk is simply not good enough.  As Councillors we should always try to consider the long term implications of our policies, and delivering on the key environmental issues will help make a real difference to the lives of future generations.'