Household waste dumped at two south Essex rubbish tips has rocketed since the launch of a controversial permit system in Southend, new figures have revealed.

The scheme, in which residents from outside Southend are charged £3 to use waste sites at Leigh Marshes and Stock Road, has now been extended by council chiefs.

However, surveys have been carried out on the county council's two sites in Newlands, Canvey, and Castle Road, Rayleigh, which show a massive increase in the amount of waste delivered.

Canvey's site has revealed an additional 1,202.10 tonnes by the end of last year which may be attributable to the introduction of the Southend permit trial, in addition to the normal growth expected.

At the Castle Road site, the extra amount of waste was 935.80 tonnes.

By the end of September last year, it was estimated by Southend Council that around 2,570 permit tickets were sold at £3 each.

However, Essex County Council, which repays the cost to residents of Castle Point and Rochford, estimated that only around 300 tickets had been refunded. Discussions are continuing over the scheme between the two councils.

Published Tuesday January 15, 2002