RESIDENTS have slammed “ludicrous” changes to the way Burnham Recycling Centre operates.

The new rules, brought in by Essex County Council to stop businesses illegally using recycling centres, will come into force on October 31. The Springfield Road tip, along with others in the county, will no longer allow access to commercial vehicles such as vans or pickups.

They will also no longer accept DIY and construction waste, including soil, ceramics, fitted kitchens, window frames and plasterboard.

These plans, forcing residents on an hour-long, 25 mile round trip, have been labelled “short-sighted” and “disgusting”.

Colin Baker, of Regents Court, Burnham, said: “I have a van and a large percentage of people in rural areas like the Dengie have 4x4s that won’t be admitted. I just can’t see the logic in it.

“If you go to Maldon, as you will have to now because of these changes, there are other restrictions up there. You could travel all the way there and then be told to leave with your waste. This is the most ludicrous plan I have come across. It will lead to a dramatic rise in fly-tipping, even by decent householders.

“A large percentage of country people have 4x4s as a normal car and householders should be encouraged to dump and recycle everything easily and conveniently.

“It is ridiculous and must be overturned if possible.”

Burnham Town Mayor, Ron Pratt, added: “As mayor, I think it is a great shame that they expect residents of the Dengie to go all the way around to Maldon with certain types of waste. I have lobbied against it right from the beginning and I just think that it is wrong to expect people to have to do that.”

Tillingham Parish Councillor, Kevin Knight, also voiced concerns having noticed a number of incidents of fly-tipping in his village in recent weeks.

He said: “I think it is absolutely ridiculous and disgusting.

There are people in this area who only have a van as a vehicle, they won’t be able to take things to the dump now. It is so short-sighted. What they should be doing is policing it properly rather than issuing a blanket ban on certain vehicles.”

Simon Walsh, councillor responsible for waste and environment at Essex County Council, said last month: “The taxpayer cannot continue to pick up the bill for businesses which don’t dispose of their waste properly. These operational changes will stop people unlawfully disposing of business and trade waste at recycling centres at the expense of the taxpayer.”