A London council is seeking to limit the number of free newspapers being distributed outside tube stations. According to a Camden council spokeswoman, the publishers of thelondonpaper and London Lite - News International and Associated Newspapers respectively - have been informed that the council may introduce controls to regulate the distribution of free literature within the borough.
She said the council is considering a report recommending controls. She told told the Camden Gazette: "Although the council has seen a positive improvement, it is still being recommended that it brings in these controls. Our main concerns are the volume of litter the papers create, the obstruction to people on our pavements and the cost to the council for emptying litter bins more frequently."
But Westminster council, which once considered imposing similar controls, reached an agreement with both publishers to inroduce recycling banks. Camden council may give the idea a trial too.
Around 800,000 copies of the two freesheets are distributed across central London every weekday evening. Several key distribution points are within the Camden borough, including Holborn, Kings Cross, St Pancras and Camden Town.
Environmental campaigners against the free papers, Project Freesheet, carry our regular walkabouts to highlight the problem of increased litter on London's streets.
