DESPITE many objections to the new van permits introduced at the district’s recycling centres, North Somerset Council has confirmed the scheme is here to stay.

Earlier this year, the council brought in a new policy which means owners of vans and trailers must now apply for a permit to use recycling centres.

The free permits restrict people to 12 visits a year and the scheme was brought in to reduce the amount of commercial waste being dumped at the sites.

A council spokesman said: “The van permit scheme has been brought in to reduce trade waste and the amount of vans using the sites.

“Since we have had this policy, black bag waste has reduced by around 50 tonnes per week across our three recycling centres - this represents a £5,000 saving.

“There will also be reductions in rubble, plasterboard and green waste.

“This is a reduction in trade waste, which council tax payers do not have to pay for the disposal of.

“We have not seen an increase in fly-tipping incidents since the introduction of the scheme.”

The recycling centres are for household waste only, but the council claims businesses had been using the sites to avoid paying to dispose of their commercial waste.

Disposing of commercial waste costs the council £95 per tonne, which tax payers have been footing the bill for.

However, a number of people have criticised the scheme which they believe discriminates against people who own vans for personal use. They also fear it could encourage fly-tipping and people dangerously overloading their cars.

Disgruntled resident David Matthews, who owns Mane Hairdressing in Backwell, had been using his van to tip household items while carrying out home improvements.

He said: “I still feel van owners, 4x4 and trailer owners are being penalised by this.

“Four weeks after applying for a permit, it still hasn’t been issued.

“Now I’m looking at buying an additional vehicle just to use the services that I have already paid for in my taxes.”