A couple have been ‘barred’ from Meltham tip – because their trailer is too big.
Bruce and Angela Jackson, of Beaumont Park, tried to register their car and trailer on the Kirklees Council website after the authority brought in controversial new rules.
But they say they were left being unable to register even their car and can now no longer use the tip.
Kirklees Council recently brought in new rules under which people must register vehicles to use at household waste and recycling centres, but they have led to a number of complaints.
The council says trailers are allowed, but are limited to 6ft in length, single axle and 12 visits per year. The Jackson’s trailer is 7ft 12in long.
Mr Jackson said: “We have used this same trailer for over 15 years and taken various items to the tip of unwanted household furniture and garden waste.
“Never have we worked as a business or received money for taking things to the tip but suddenly we are unable to use it anymore.
“Because we could not register our trailer the Kirklees website would not allow us to even register our car!
“Our personal trailer is slightly larger than the 6ft allowed but on almost every visit to the tip we have seen cars and/or vans which have obviously been used to dump business waste. No doubt they will be allowed to continue to use the site because their vehicles are of a certain specification.
“This is red tape gone completely and utterly mad, but sadly, very typical of Kirklees often disjointed thought process.”
He added: “I suppose I will have to get a 5ft 11in trailer and make three trips to the tip instead of one. That will be very good for the environment, won’t it?”
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We have no record of an application being submitted with the details provided by the Examiner.
“We can however confirm that there are restrictions on the size of trailers. Trailers over 6ft in length or on a twin/double axle are not permitted on the sites.
“This is to minimise disruption to other site users, especially during busy periods, where the use of large trailers can cause capacity, manoeuvring and obstruction issues.
“If a resident tried to register a car and a trailer (in excess of these limits) at the same time then it would be highlighted on screen and the application would not progress further.
“There is nothing stopping a resident registering a car separately in order to use the sites.”
The Examiner revealed earlier this week that Shepley parents Stephanie and Chris Rhodes were turned away from the Denby Dale site due to their minibus.
The vehicle is their only method of transport which they need to take their seven children to school.
IT consultant Chris, 43, registered the family vehicle on the council website.
They were initially told their visits were limited to 12 times a year due to the size of the minibus.
But upon turning up at the Barnsley Road site on July 9, two days before the rules came into effect, staff told them the bus was not allowed.
The council says it is awaiting further information and a photo of the vehicle, so it can check it is correctly classified on the system.
