Enfield residents urged to sign anti-spitting petition

People living in flats to rent in Enfield are being urged to sign a petition to ban spitting in the borough.

Councillor Chris Bond, Enfield Council's cabinet member for environment, is asking all residents to back his bid and allow the area to become the first in the country to stop people gobbing on the streets.

Once 2,750 signatures are collected, a full council debate can then follow and if the local representatives agree to ban spitting in the borough, a formal application to introduce a by-law will be presented to the government.

Mr Bond said: "We want to ban spitting in the borough but we need to have a petition to show the government the strength of feeling in Enfield - it sounds barmy but that's the law.

"In the meantime we have launched a poster campaign urging people not to spit in our borough. It's a disgusting, anti-social habit which can spread germs."

Mr Bond went on to suggest that dealing with anti-social behaviour such as spitting is particularly important in the wake of the riots in England this summer.

Now, he stated, "it's even more important to get a bit more respect back for our borough and Britain. It's a small but important step to start with spitting".

"I would be gobsmacked if we do not get a great response on this - already I have received positive messages from people not only in Enfield but all over the country who want to see spitting banned," the councillor added. "If we get the signatures it will be a real test case for the government's localism agenda."

Speaking in July, communities and local government minister Bob Neill said: "Spitting in a public place is an anti-social, unpleasant and unhealthy practice. Any by-law application will be considered on a case by case basis, on its merits."

Posted by Martyn Glynn

Published 11th October, 2011

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