Fly-tip worries after tip ban for non-residents

Residents living in Shifnal say fly-tipping will increase after Telford and Wrekin Council banned non-residents from using its two recycling centres.

The authority ended an informal agreement with Shropshire Council on 1 April, which had allowed residents to share access to tips.

Telford and Wrekin Council said too many people from outside the borough were using them - adding cost and pressure. Shropshire Council has yet to respond.

"Because of the postcode I live under, it means I've got to go to Bridgnorth. It's ridiculous," one resident from the town said.

Residents in Shifnal - in the Shropshire Council area - are just a seven minute drive from Telford's Halesfield recycling centre.

They are also worried that more fly-tipping will happen in their local area, because people simply won't drive to other areas.

Bridgnorth is about a 25 minute drive from Shifnal town centre.

"There is already a lot of fly-tipping and that is what people will do...they'll go to Halesfield and just dump it at the side of the road," another resident said.

Fly-tipping in the Shropshire Council area was already a worry, after the authority introduced a booking system for its five recycling centres on 4 November in an attempt to shave £200,000 from its waste disposal budget.

Following a review, Telford and Wrekin claimed 30,000 people from outside the borough used its sites last year, adding cost and pressure - especially during busy periods.

People may have to present ID to be allowed to drop their waste off, such as a driving licence or council tax bill.

Conservative MP for The Wrekin, Mark Pritchard, said the plan should be scrapped.

"I'm the only MP that has both councils in my constituency. Both leaders need to get together and work out a solution, so my constituency and others can go back to using the closest recycling centre".

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