Barriers plan for tip site

will consider using it at all the sites.”

The plan marks another step in the council’s hardline position of keeping waste that it is not legally required to handle off its books, such as from people who do not live in the borough.

In 2016, in a bid to cut costs, the council stopped accepting “nonstatutory” waste – such as rubble, soil and ceramics. Councillors have argued about fly-tipping ever since.

Evidence about whether fly-tipping has increased because of the changes has been mixed, with levels fluctuating wildly in the two years since the ban.

But the new proposals have again raised question marks about whether the new barriers will increase fly-tipping.

Lib Dem leader, Clr John Lawson, said he was concerned the move would deter people from using the tip.

He said: “With fly-tipping being a really big problem, how is this going to affect it. “Is it going to increase it? “If people using the tip at the moment are discouraged from using it because of the barriers, that would be a big concern.

“We need to be pragmatic and I hope we are going to monitor it and check if fly-tipping is affected.”

Clr Lawson, said if the scheme was used as an excuse to cut back on the staff who monitor the recycling centre, it would be a great shame as he felt they were vital for the “customer service” of the site.

Senior Conservative, Clr Martyn Bolt, whose Mirfield constituents will use the tip, said he was unaware of the plan.

He said he feared it would increase fly-tipping as people who were turned away decided to ditch their waste in the surrounding area.

“You often see rubbish dropped on the side of the road on the streets of Dewsbury,” he said.

“If people get there and they can’t drop off their domestic waste, there’s a good chance they’re going to fly tip it. What’s the reason for this? Is the council saying there’s been hundreds of unregistered people using the tip. And why have they chosen Dewsbury?

“I’m also concerned about how much this technology is going to cost.”