‘More fly tipping after ID checks’ at Pitsea tip

Staff at the rubbish tip in Pitsea Hall Lane have been turning residents away, even if they are trying to dispose of large amounts.

The rules mean that those who live in Southend and Thurrock are not permitted to use Essex County Council tips and people are being asked to give ID to prove where they live before they are allowed in.

One resident, Chris Caine, grew concerned the new system at the tip could encourage more people to fly tip after her sister was asked for ID to dump two sofas.

She said: “It is all well and good the tip denying residents from outside the area from dumping their rubbish, but if they turn people away with their rubbish, what do you think they are going to do with it?

“They won’t take it back home - they will dump it in the nearest quiet spot.”

Derrick Fellowes, independent councillor for Nethermayne at Basildon Council, described the decision to ID residents as “bizarre”.

He said: “There are a lot of restrictions already.

“If I were at Barleylands tip and I had something that wasn’t what they dispose of they would send me to Pitsea, so why are they stopping people going in?

“Fly tipping is a very likely side effect of this and that cannot be happening in this area.”

In total, fly tipping cost £70,000 of taxpayer’s money last year in Basildon borough alone. It is the responsibility of the landowner to pay for the disposal of flytipping.

There have been a number of reported incidents of fly tipping in the area in recent months in a Wickford park as well as a disused caravan which was dumped in Church End Lane.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “We have recently seen an increase in the number of residents from Thurrock and Southend visiting the Pitsea recycling centre for household waste tip in Pitsea Hall Lane, Basildon.

“Residents from Thurrock and Southend are not permitted to use any of the Essex County Council waste and recycling centres centre and should check with their local council.”