Lib Dems call on Essex and Herts County Councils to agree reciprocal arrangements at their Waste Recycling Sites

Liberal Democrat councillors representing Stansted, Birchanger, Farnham, Manuden, Berden and Ugley have condemned Hertfordshire County Council over a tip ban for Essex householders.

Hertfordshire County Council agreed recently that from Ist April use of its recycling centre in Bishop's Stortford will be restricted to Hertfordshire residents only. Essex County Council introduced a similar proof of address rules along with a booking system at its waste tip in Saffron Walden in mid-March.

Deputy Group leader Cllr Geoffrey Sell, (Stansted North) said "residents in villages in the south of Uttlesford who usually made a short journey to Bishop's Stortford's recycling centre would now have 25 mile round trip to get rid of their rubbish in Saffron Walden or Harlow rather than "just around the corner" in Hertfordshire. I fear that this change could lead to an increase in fly-tipping in Uttlesford."

During a debate requesting Essex County Council to reverse their changes at Saffron Walden tip, Cllr Ayub Khan (Stansted South and Birchanger) got Uttlesford District Council to also write to Hertfordshire opposing their changes. He said "I think that the two County councils have to get around the table to agree formal reciprocal arrangements between them which allows residents to use their nearest tip. It doesn't make sense when local councils are trying to reduce Co2 emissions to force people to make longer car trips."