Anger at waste site ban on big vehicles

Under new rules large vehicles are not allowed to enter the five household waste recycling centres in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch and Craven Arms.

Shropshire Council says more than 3,000 tonnes of waste was dumped illegally at the sites last year by businesses, at a cost to the council taxpayer of nearly £200,000.

But Councillor Ray Stickland, of Shifnal Town Council, said the decision beggared belief.

"I think whoever has made this decision is off their trolley," he said.

"If you are getting trucks and big vehicles going to the tips and being turned away, what are they going to do?

"They certainly won't drive all the way home or back to work - they will just dump it anywhere.

"We already have a massive problem in Shifnal with fly-tipping, for instance on Stanton Road where there are always loads of rubber tyres being dumped.

"I fear these crazy new rules are just going to make things a lot, lot worse.

"Tips are for dumping rubbish and hedgerows are for decoration, but they don't seem to understand that at Shirehall."

John Wallen, from Shropshire Council's waste partnership, said he believed tightening measures would have no impact on fly-tipping.

"He said the last time entry requirements were made more stringent in 2002 incidents of fly-tipping did not go up.

He added: "We can't say it won't happen this time - but if fly-tipping does increase then we will make sure we deal with it."

Large vans and pick-ups were previously allowed on site at the county's tips if drivers possessed a valid permit.

Smaller vans, 4x4s, pick-ups, camper vans and cars with medium-sized trailers will also have to apply for a permit to get in under the new rules.

By Wayne Beese