A NEW permit system for rubbish tips across Leeds will come into force next month – and residents in Otley are already predicting trouble.

Leeds City Council has announced it will be issuing vehicle sticker permits to restrict the use of its eight waste disposal sites from April 1.

The authority says it is introducing the change “reluctantly”, following similar moves by neighbouring councils, in a bid to cut costs.

But Otley householders living on the North Yorkshire side of town fear it will force them to make return trips of some 26 miles to get rid of rubbish.

Currently, they can just nip to Otley’s Ellar Ghyll recycling centre.

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) said: “It is unfortunate the city council has had to follow the other local authorities in the area and introduce resident permits.

“I know they have tried to negotiate a reciprocal agreement with neighbouring councils but without success, and there was a fear that across the city Leeds residents were being asked to pay for the recycling of waste from other areas.

“I have some sympathy with those people who live on the North Yorkshire side of the Otley boundary, and will ask officers to contact their colleagues in Harrogate to see if a local agreement can be negotiated.”

Other residents meanwhile, like Side Copse householder Dan Lebath, have spoken out in favour of the change.

He said: “We already need a permit to take anything in a trailer.

“Why, as council tax payers, should we subsidise people from other areas tipping at Ellar Ghyll, for example?

“I can see the issue of people in the Harrogate areas of Otley, or the Bradford areas of Menston or Burley-in-Wharfedale and so on having to travel further to tip, but you have to draw the line somewhere.”

One permit per household will be sent to Leeds residents in the next few weeks along with their annual council tax letter.

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “In today’s financial climate we simply cannot offer what is effectively a subsidy to other councils for waste disposal.”

Anyone trying to dump rubbish at Leeds tips without a permit from April 1 will have to provide an alternative proof of address, such as their council tax bill.

More details can be found at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Leeds PermitScheme.aspx.