A COUNCILLOR is outraged after the latest fly-tipping of waste in countryside near York.

The picture of dumped building materials was taken yesterday in Moor Lane, Murton, said Alastair McFarlane, clerk to Murton Parish Council.

He said a bath had actually been thrown over a gate into a paddock, and while villagers were involved in a litter pick this morning, 'we will not be removing this pile!'

He said fly tiping was happening more frequently now and he believed this was linked to the charges imposed for depositing such waste at City of York Council's depot, Hazel Court, off James Street.

"How much longer is Moor Lane going to be used as a dumping ground for waste building material due to the charges imposed at James Street?" he asked.

York councillor Mark Warters said he had inquired whether access to Hazel Court could be increased to reduce fly tipping levels - 'or are we as a council going to continue this ludicrous policy of making it as difficult and expensive as possible for people to use Hazel Court whilst simultaneously spending a fortune on removing flytipped items from all around the city?

"I have and will continue to argue that the problem and cost of fly tipped rubbish in York is directly proportional to the closure of Beckfield Lane Tip, the reduction in opening hours at Towthorpe Tip and the charging and operating regime at Hazel Court.

"It's obviously far better for the council taxpayer to fund council tips that are accessible and offer free disposal for council taxpayers then have to fund clear ups of fly tipped rubbish in the countryside and streets.

"I would have thought all councillors would be happier reducing charges at Hazel Court and relaxing a regime that appears to discourage people taking rubbish there for disposal to encourage responsible disposal rather than seeing huge sums of money and staff resource being spent on clearing fly tipped waste."

He said the Government had provided local authorities with an opportunity to 'redress the balance' by reducing charges at waste depots and York should grasp it.