A RESIDENT was turned away from a recycling centre... because he was driving a Land Rover.

Steve Gallant, of Althorne, tried to drop off garden waste at Burnham Recycling Centre, in Springfield Road, only to be refused entry by staff.

He was told he could not bring the waste in as he was driving a prohibited vehicle.

New rules, which came into force in October, ban vans, pick-up trucks and commercial vehicles, but not Land Rovers.

Mr Gallant offered to leave the Land Rover outside and carry the waste in but was told he could not.

He is still waiting for a reply to his complaint to Essex County Council 29 days after the incident. He was told he would receive one within ten.

He said: “My Land Rover is privately owned and is not a commercial vehicle or used for any commercial activity.

“I was denied access to go in and drop off my waste. When I asked if I could walk it in, it was only garden waste, grass cuttings, loose leaves, this was also denied.

“It felt like I was being penalised because of the vehicle I was driving.

For many people living in a rural community such as ours a Land Rover is their only vehicle.

“I pay for this service through my community charge, but I am being denied access to the service because of my choice of vehicle.”

Mr Gallant has also expressed fears about the future of the site, worrying that reduced use could lead to it being closed. 

He added: “The tip will certainly suffer reduced usage and it is probably that ultimately, the facility will be seen as no longer viable and will close altogether.

“If you look at the number of people who can no longer gain access, it is clearly going to have a negative effect.

“My fear is that people are not going to drive to South Woodham Ferrers or Maldon, and there is a real danger it will result in more incidents of fly tipping.”

Cllr Simon Walsh, Essex councillor responsible for environment and waste, said: “Users of privately-owned vans and pick-ups are still able to access the larger recycling sites with their own household waste.”