Councillor calls for review to 'bureaucratic' changes at Darlington tip (From The Advertiser Series)

Councillor calls for review to 'bureaucratic' changes at Darlington tip

3:28pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Vicki Henderson, Darlington reporter

A COUNCILLOR has called for a review of changes to the rules governing who can use Darlington’s waste disposal centre, claiming that they are causing too many ‘bureaucratic anomalies’.

Councillor Gill Cartwright, ward member for Harrowgate Hill, which includes the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), on Whessoe Road, said she would be asking Darlington Borough Council toexamine the service and iron out any problems.

The council placed a number of restrictions on the site in April in an attempt to cut back on the number of commercial operators who were illegally dumping at the site.

But the changes, which include applying for a free permit prior to visiting the HWRC with a trailer more than 4ft in length and paying to dispose of building rubble or soil, have angered many people, who say that the new rules are confusing and unnecessary.

Coun Cartwright said she had witnessed many instances where the rules had not worked, including an occasion when a man with a large trailer was told he could not access the HWRC because he did not have a permit, but could dispose of his rubbish if he parked up and transferred it to his car.

Coun Cartwright said: “It’s a farcical situation - it’s causing all sorts of bureaucratic anomalies. What should happen is that people should go to the HWRC and they should give them the permit there and then - it’s just a matter of giving basic details.

“It’s got to be made easier to use.”

A council spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, there will always be occasions when a resident turns up to the site and is not aware that they are not allowed entry without a permit and we acknowledge how frustrating this must be.

"It is necessary to be strict in all cases, as it has been shown some traders will exploit any relaxation of these rules and avoid paying the required fees for the disposal of commercial waste.

"Since the introduction of the new procedures and permit based system, the council has recovered fee income of up to £60,000, reducing the costs of services to the residential tax-payer.

“It has also been shown that the majority of site-users feel the new rules are working well.”

To apply for a trailer permit call 01325-388777.