A KETTLEWELL businessman has been disposing of his own rubbish as far away as Blackpool after the village's plastic sack collection service was withdrawn in favour of wheelie bins.

Colin Hare, who runs Littlebeck bed and breakfast establishment with his wife, Janet, was informed in February that he had to have a wheeled bin to replace the former service.

Since then, the council has not collected his rubbish and has placed his name on a black-list of premises to avoid.

It has left the Hares making regular trips to tips around the area to dispose of it themselves. As well as the local tip, other sites have included Thirsk in the east and Blackpool in the west.

Mr Hare, who has run the businesses for the past five years, says is he not being difficult about the situation, but simply sticking to his guns in the interests of his guests.

"There is not enough room in the small car park to the side of Littlebeck to allow for a wheeled bin, and its collection would mean that either residents would have to move their cars during breakfast, or risk having them scratched," he said.

In addition, the council had suggested it be stored to the rear of the business although to get the bin in and out of the rear garden area would mean having to knock away some 800-year-old foundation stones.

"These stones were part of the original foundations to the longhouse which was first built on this site," said Mr Hare. "I certainly have no intention of removing them for a wheelie bin. Besides, it would still mean having to wheel it out through the small car park between cars."

He said that of the 11 houses on that particular road in Kettlewell, only four had wheelie bins because of the lack of access, and one of those had ended up with just nine inches between the bin and the house to get past.

"We have been black-listed from council refuse collections now although others in the same road have their bags taken away. Now the council has suggested billing us extra for the removal of trade waste when they don't even collect it.

"I might even send them an invoice for the additional mileage I have had to incur from the Grassington roundabout in taking the rubbish to the Skibeden tip since February.

"After several letters to and from the council, the Hares took the matters to a complaints standards committee hearing in May. The outcome was to refuse the reinstatement of the black bin liner collection service but to offer the Hares a smaller bin instead.

But this was not acceptable to Mr and Mrs Hare who have taken their complaints to the ombudsman. If the matter is found in favour of the council yet again and the Hares still refuse a wheeled bin, the matter could end up before the magistrates' Court.

Mr Hare said he was even willing to go as far as the European Courts to protect his human rights.

Colin Iveson, democratic services manager with Craven District Council confirmed the matter was in the hands of the ombudsman and said the council was unable to comment further until a decision had been made.