LEEDS City Council has been accused of encouraging householders to recycle less and pollute more by denying them access to a tip.

Menston and Burley residents who have been using the waste tip at Ellar Ghyll, near Menston, have been told they are no longer eligible to use the site, and according to a local councillor they now face a six-mile drive to Ilkley to dispose of their rubbish.

Wharfedale ward councillor Matt Palmer says a sign at Ellar Ghyll is threatening 12 months in prison or a fine of £50,000 for anyone disposing of someone else's waste.

He said: "This is a disgrace. There is no reason why Leeds cannot use a bit of common sense, rather than criminalising local residents. For years council tips and recycling points have been open to everyone, but now Leeds have decided that anyone who does not live in Leeds should go elsewhere.

"Bradford has not stopped Leeds residents from using our facilities. Where sites are located on the borders of the district it is obvious that people from both areas will use it, and they should be allowed to do so."

Coun Palmer branded the decision 'absurd', and he said the timing of the ban - over the Christmas period - was 'insane'.

He stressed: "There is no reason why Leeds could not sit down with other councils and talk about this. Instead, they acted on a whim and without telling anyone. Bradford Council officers are anxious to discuss the matter but Leeds have gone ahead anyway. People will be bringing their Christmas trees, paper and bottles for recycling and will be turned away.

"Not only will this force people to drive up to six miles further, increasing pollution from cars, it will discourage people from recycling and increase the costs to both councils.

"I have been told that Leeds plan to introduce a residents permit system. I cannot understand why they want to employ an army of administrators to print more paper whilst stopping people from recycling the paper they already have. It makes no sense at all.

"The signs suggest that anyone from outside Leeds district, or anyone helping out an elderly or disabled friend or relative, could face a year in prison or a £50,000 fine. This is complete insanity."

Coun Palmer added: "I am concerned that this will increase the amount of fly tipping and result in fines for councils for not meeting their recycling targets. This move is bad for Leeds, bad for Bradford, bad for local residents and bad for the local environment."

"I have already contacted the council and I will be writing to the Chief Executive and Leader of Leeds Council to get this rubbish decision reversed."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "Unfortunately Leeds City Council has had to restrict the use of its household waste sort sites to Leeds residents only. This decision was taken to bring Leeds in line with restrictions imposed by other, neighbouring local authorities which have for some years denied Leeds residents access to their civic amenity sites.

"The cost of waste disposal in Leeds is rising sharply year on year and the new landfill allowance trading scheme (LATS) will further penalise council taxpayers if they continue to fund other authorities' waste disposal.

"We regret any inconvenience caused to non-Leeds residents who have been using the Leeds sites up to now and advise them to approach their own local authorities to establish the correct locations at which they should dispose of their household waste."