A COUNCIL’s decision to issue identity permits for people to use a town rubbish and recycling centre has been condemned as a ‘licence to fly tip.’

Users of Monmouth’s Troy tip will in future have to show ID permits issued by Monmouthshire County Council, because they say people from other local authority areas may be overunning it.

But many residents who have just been hit by a 5.95 per cent rise in Council Tax say continual temporary closures at the tip for skips to be emptied is because the site is simply too small and no longer fit for purpose.

Coleford’s Oak Quarry tip is currently closed for three weeks for an upgrade, and people could be travelling up to 12 miles there and back to Monmouth to dump their rubbish.

But one resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “Even if they are, it’s a temporary issue which will end on April 5 before they send out ID permits.

“It’s unlikely that the council’s excuse that tip closures in other local authority areas may be causing the problem will hold any water after the end of this week.

“People are not going to bother making a 12-mile round trip from Coleford and the Forest of Dean after next week just because it’s closed one day a week, on a Tuesday.

“The simple fact is Monmouth Tip is no longer big enough to cater for a town which has seen lots of house building and a big increase in population. They need to relocate the site.”

Under the new ID proposal, and with Monmouth being on the England/Wales border, people living just two miles away in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire who shop in the town and send their children to local schools will in future have to travel up to 24 miles to recycle and dump rubbish.

And the resident said: “Sure, a handful of people from the likes of Redbrook and Welsh Newton just over the border might use the tip, but to expect them to travel up to 24 miles there and back to the likes of Ross-on-Wye is hardly environmentally friendly.

“And you’ll also get local people forgetting their ID permits when they go to the tip, so it’s a licence for fly tipping.”

One woman resident posted on Facebook: “More houses being built, more kids being born, more rubbish – simple move the tip to a larger area! Simple!”A woman who tried to use the tip on Sunday, March 24, and was told to go to Abergavenny 16 miles away, posted: “Tips shut for the rest of the day! Got a whole car full of garden waste, it’s a bloody joke just as they’ve increased our council tax!”She added: “I expect fly tipping is only going to get worse until Monmouthshire County Council sort themselves out!”Blaming the problem on the growth of the town, one resident added: “The problem exists (and will only get worse) because of the amount of housing development that has happened and will continue to happen.” One resident who tried to visit on Monday, March 25, said: “The tip is about to close. The roller/compressor is broken. Skips are cordoned off and full to the brim. I have been advised to go to Llanfoist. “As it happens, I'm clearing out ready to move due to the increase in Council Tax. I rest my case! Where is our hard-earned money going exactly?” In the next few weeks, Monmouthshire Council has asked residents to take identification with them to the tip.

A spokesperson said: “Our household waste recycling centres are very busy at the moment. The increase could be due to closures and changes at sites in neighboring authorities.

“In coming weeks we will be issuing permits to allow only Monmouthshire residents to use the sites and so relieve the pressure on our sites.

“Due to the current increase in extra visitors we would advise everyone going to the sites to have documentary proof you live in Monmouthshire.

“Random checks will take place, so please make sure you have a driving licence or a similar document with your address on when visiting your local site. Apologies, please bear with us.”