Liberal Democrat County Councillors have written to the Minister of Local Government asking him to intervene and scrap the County Council’s unpopular charges for dumping certain household waste at our local Community Recycling Centres.

The County Council introduced the fees last year despite residents making their opposition to the charges clear during the public consultation on the charging proposal and despite 1,584 residents signing a petition calling for the charges not to be introduced. Since their introduction, more than 7,000 residents have signed a subsequent petition calling for the charges to be abolished.

In expressing their opposition to the charging proposal, residents have said that this service should be kept free at the point of use and have expressed fears that the charges will result in increased fly-tipping.

Meanwhile Hampshire County Council have recently suspended plans to introduce similar charges pending government advice.