Page 32 - BR-March-2018

March 2018 March 2018

NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER

My family and I very much enjoy walking in the
countryside in Dorset. It always makes me both sad
and angry to see the amount of litter by the side of
the road. I frequently arrive home after walking the
dog with handfuls of discarded rubbish. It is such a
blight on the landscape, and I am pleased that
local councils are going to have stronger powers to
fine people who throw litter from cars.
Therefore, I am once again very pleased to be
supporting the Great British Spring Clean which is taking place from 2 -4 March,
nd
th
the national clean-up campaign led by Keep Britain Tidy. Last year 70,000 wheelie
bins of rubbish were collected over one weekend. Individuals, groups, families,
schools, businesses and clubs can all sign up and make a difference. Register at
www.keepbritaintidy.org/gbspringclean and let’s clean up our country. I know
there are some very active community groups who help to keep our local areas
tidy, and I would like to thank them for all their hard work.
I know that in Westminster we are keen to reduce the scourge of litter and
environmental pollution. We are working towards plastic-free supermarket aisles,
and we recently banned microbeads to reduce the amount of plastic going into
our oceans. I was delighted to hear that local Dorset brewery Hall & Woodhouse
are phasing out plastic straws in their pubs, and instead using biodegradable
paper alternatives. Last year I signed the Wimborne War on Waste pledge to
reduce the number of disposable cups that I use. I also signed the pledge in
Westminster. As a result, I have requisitioned my wife’s sparkly reusable cup, much
to her dismay. There are an increasing number of outlets that offer a discount if
you bring your own cup, or allow you to fill a reusable water bottle for free.

LOCAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Michael Tomlinson MP 
Michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk
holds regular surgeries
in the constituency. For  01202 624216
details of forthcoming www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk
surgeries or to make an 
appointment, please @Michael4MDNP
contact his office.

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