In response to today’s (Thursday) publication of a new manifesto by Keep Britain Tidy, Samantha Harding, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Stop the Drop Campaign Manager, says:

“This new Keep Britain Tidy manifesto adds strength to the campaign to rid our towns and countryside of unsightly and environmentally damaging litter. We are pleased to see Keep Britain Tidy setting out its priorities at such an important point before the General Election.

“We welcome the manifesto, which echoes our call for an integrated Government and Private sector campaign to tackle both litter and the causes of litter. We are particularly pleased the manifesto publicly backs our call for a national bottle deposit scheme.

“However, the manifesto is undermined by the absence of any real reference to the specific challenges facing the countryside. Over 90 per cent of Britain’s landmass is classified as rural and in these areas litter can lie for longer and have a more damaging impact on wildlife and the environment. It’s essential that these rural places are not left out of any proposed litter strategy. Keep Britain Tidy must strive to get all of Britain tidy, including the countryside.”

Notes to Editors

1. 2007 Countryside Survey (September 2009), http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5325.xls

2. Stop the Drop is a flagship CPRE campaign and was launched in April 2008. The campaign calls for a national, long term education campaign, a bottle deposit scheme and a change to the law on roadside litter. To date the campaign has inspired the formation of 286 litter picking groups across England, who have collectively cleared 35,068 bags of litter to date. Further information about the campaign can be found at its websites: www.cpre.org.uk and www.litteraction.org.uk

3. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

4. CPRE launched 2026 - A Vision for the Countryside in May 2009, setting out a positive and optimistic vision for the future of the beautiful English countryside in 2026, the charity’s centenary year. The Vision’s key issues include: affordable, high quality housing; urban regeneration; Green Belts; better planning; green energy; local food and farming; quality of life; light pollution and valuing the countryside as a national asset. For further information go to Campaigns: 2026 – A Vision for the Countryside.