Councillor backs regulated-flyer zone (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Councillor backs regulated-flyer zone

August 2, 2006 8:15 PM

Leeds City Council wants to introduce plans for 'Flyer Control Zone' that would encompass the city centre and the Headingley corridor. The idea of a regulated flyer zone has been mooted by council in order to combat litter problems caused by flyers and the distress that can be caused to passers-by pushy distributors. Whilst plans are still in their infancy, a draft report by the council's enforcement team has revealed that should the plans get the ok, the council would declare some parts of the city as 'designated zones', subject to tougher restrictions and application fees for distributors.

Predictably some bars and nightclubs are opposed to the plans, but the council feels the ban would be hugely beneficial to Leeds residents. City Services lead member and Headingley Councillor James Monaghan elaborates.

Councillor James Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) said "The problem of recklessly discarded flyers is a serious one and one that needs regulating. The government's Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005) has given the council greater powers to clamp down on this sort of behaviour.

Councillor Monaghan added "During Freshers week the amount of discarded flyers dumped in and around Headingley is simply unacceptable. What we want is to restrict the number of flyers given out in saturated area's and make those distributing this material more accountable for their actions."

Editor:

1. Leeds City Council is currently drafting new regulations that will restrict the distribution of literature, product samples and local information within Leeds City Centre and the Headingley corridor. The new laws, under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005, are scheduled to be in place by Freshers' Week 2006. Leeds is the first city to introduce this new law outside the pilot scheme in Newcastle.