A LABOUR councillor has spoken out against possible plans to move a York tip that has been targeted by young vandals.

Coun Brian Watson demanded answers from Coun Andrew Waller, executive member for sustainability and the environment, on the future of the Beckfield Lane rubbish dump at an advisory panel meeting last night.

According to a council report, "uncertainty" surrounded the site's future development.

The council was handed £350,000 earlier this year to develop a household waste site for the city.

Coun Waller said it was "unlikely" that the Beckfield Lane site would be big enough for the better facilities the council hoped to offer.

But Coun Watson said the site could be expanded into council-owned land directly behind it.

He said: "The site has been there for years and that's where people go.

"If they move it somewhere else people aren't going to go. We are going to go back to the old fly-tipping.

"This is an amenity for Acomb."

The rubbish tip was forced to close last month after a gang of youths hurled missiles at firefighters and council employees who were dealing with a skip fire, which had been started deliberately by children.

Last summer, the Evening Press reported that antisocial vandals were plaguing the site, setting off gas canisters, as well as scattering oil and rubbish.

The council has spent £10,000 improving security at the Beckfield Lane tip, including anti-vandal measures to the security fencing.

Updated: 10:40 Thursday, June 10, 2004