Brian Paddick's thumbs-up for Crouch End bag-for-life

11.12.23am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Apr 2008

Brian Paddick, Cllr Monica Whyte and Lynne Featherstone MP campaigning in Crouch End

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and Lib Dem assembly candidate for Enfield and Haringey Monica Whyte visited Crouch End on Monday to show their support for the launch of a selection of new designs for the ground breaking bag-for-life scheme organised by local traders.

The bag-for-life scheme, which encourages shoppers to reduce their environmental footprint by using fewer plastic bags, was controversially criticised by Haringey's Labour cabinet member for the environment as a "fashion statement" but has been welcomed by local Liberal Democrats and is popular with local residents.

Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick said, "I am excited to see that local traders have done such a good job at encouraging shoppers to go green that new bags are having to be made to keep up with demand. It is easy to throw criticism, but it is precisely these kinds of serious solutions to practical problems that London urgently needs.

"I was sorry to see that Labour in Haringey have criticised this bag", added assembly candidate Monica Whyte, "but the huge success traders are having shows how useful these schemes can be."

"Reducing our use of plastic and packaging like this is one way in which we can all do our bit. If elected I will therefore be fighting for strong incentives for residents and businesses to encourage all parts of London to reduce their environment footprint."

ENDS

Notes to the editor:

1. A photo is attached of Brian Paddick, Monica Whyte and Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone with examples of the new Crouch End bag-for-life designs.

2. Cllr Brian Haley, Haringey Council's cabinet member was quoted at a meeting of Full Council in February as describing the bag as a "fashion statement" (http://www.hornseyjournal.co.uk/content/haringey/hornseyjournal/news/story.aspx?brand=HCEJOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshcej&itemid=WeED27%20Feb%202008%2011%3A15%3A08%3A813). This followed earlier criticism from Cllr Haley at a meeting in January which was strongly criticised by Liberal Democrat councillors: http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/news2011-plastic-bags.htm.