Local MP, Gordon Prentice is calling on Pendle Council to increase spending on street cleaning.

Figures for spending in 2008/2009 show Pendle’s spending per head is second     bottom in East Lancashire, with only the Ribble Valley spending less. The figures also show that Pendle spent nearly 50% less than neighbouring Burnley and 75% less than Rossendale, who came top in the area.

The MP said, “Pendle’s street cleaning expenditure this year has gone up slightly, but when I am out and about I see streets in many parts of the borough in a dire state. So I am delighted that the Scrutiny Management Team are looking at the whole issue.”

“The Scrutiny Team should call on the council to increase street cleaning spending to at least the same level as Burnley’s. At the same time I am in touch with the     Environment Secretary urging him to implement the recommendations of the    Council for the Protection of Rural England’s “Litterbugs” report. It makes many key suggestions such as reinvigorating the Keep Britain Tidy campaign and greater consistency in the application of penalties for littering.”

Note to Editors:
These are the figures per head that councils spent on street cleaning in 2008/9:
Rossendale - £19.70
Blackburn - £18.86
Burnley - £16.48
Hynburn - £13.90
Pendle - £11.24
Ribble Valley - £5.60

For the CPRE Report, see http://www.cpre.org.uk/library/campaign/litter-and-fly-tipping