A decision by Southend Council to charge non-residents to dump waste at the borough's tips has sparked anger from neighbouring councils.

Southend has decided to replace the barriers at the tips, which stop commercial trucks dumping rubbish, with a free permit scheme.

Under the new scheme, which will be given a six-month trial from April 1, only people living in the borough will be able to use the facilities at Sutton Road, Southend, and Leigh Marshes for free.

Those from outside the area will have to pay a flat rate of £3 to use the disposal facilities.

Vic Leach, Rochford's Lib Dem spokesman on the environment, said: "The decision of Southend to charge non-residents to use the civic amenity site in Sutton Road flies in the face of the partnership that, despite our differences, Essex County Council, the Essex districts and the borough, have tried to establish to decide the best way forward to dispose of our waste and achieve the recycling targets set by the Government."

He added: "We rely on each other to effectively deal with our waste in south east Essex but if Southend wants to be unitary when disposing of its rubbish then let it be done properly.

"Stop the waste being dumped in Barling, stop using the composting facility in Wakering and build your incinerator on the old gas works site on Southend seafront because that will be the logical outcome."

Ann Holland, Southend's executive councillor for environmental and public protection, said: "By taking down the barriers at civic amenity sites it will be much easier for us to control and we can monitor what is coming in and halt commercial dumping."

By James Howell

Reporter's e-mail: james.howell@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.