ONE of York's biggest cases of fly tipping is finally set to be removed -almost six months after it was dumped in a layby.

The big trailer was abandoned in the layby on the A1079 at Dunnington in June, said Independent councillor Mark Warters.

He said it appeared to be full of tyres and garage waste, although the full contents would only become clear when it was emptied.

He claimed the delays in removing it were caused by a dispute between City of York Council and the Environment Agency as to who should take responsibility for it.

The council originally said it was the agency's problem, but the agency insisted it was the council's, and the authority was now planning to take steps to remove it but without any signs of urgency, claimed Cllr Warters.

"It's taking an age to get it moved," he said. "The fact it has been there since June tells me that they haven't a clue how to deal with it.

"I am continually fielding comments from people as to this eyesore, given that the trees partially shielding it are now losing their leaves."

Cllr Warters said he had deliberately delaying alerting the media to the problem, as he wanted to give the authorities chance to sort it out and was concerned someone might set it on fire.

"My patience has now gone and I am sick of people contacting me about this," he added.

He said all clues as to the owner of the trailer had been carefully removed, and the cost of taking it away and disposing of the contents was therefore set to end up with taxpayers.

He called for the authorities to look into the possibility of closing the layby, saying it provided little purpose other than as a parking up place for HGV drivers who wanted to avoid paying to use a lorry park.

Russell Stone, head of operations at the council, said: “We are in the process of arranging for a specialist removal service to safely dispose of the tyres and trailer as soon as possible.”

The Press reported in August how the council had been tackling a steadily growing spate of fly-tipping in the York area, with cases rising from 98 cases in 2010 to 154 last year.