Bushed by the tip's red tape (From Barry And District News)

Bushed by the tip's red tape

A BARRY postman says he is baffled and bemused by the amount of red tape involved just to dump some rubbish.

Nigel Criddle, of Maes Glas, cut down a bush in his front garden on Friday June 28. Loading it into his Rascal van, the 34-year-old went to the civic amenity site to do the right thing and dispose of it.

But he was dismayed by a sign on the gate warning no vans could use the site.

He told the News: "I sent my wife Michelle to go and ask if we could come in, because ours wasn't a commercial van. A man working there said we needed a permit, but we could get one from the council offices."

Nigel and Michelle, 38, set off to the Civic Offices to get a permit. But when they got there they were told they'd gone to the wrong office.

Nigel added: "The woman on reception called Wenvoe and I spoke to a woman who said it was too late for a permit, but I could get one in a day or two. It was only 2pm."

With a van full of bush and insects, Nigel was at a loss. He said: "I didn't want to break the law and fly-tip, but I can see why people do.

"In the end we took Michelle's car down to the tip and loaded the rubbish from the van into the car. She made five trips to put it in the skip. What a waste of time.

"I know the rule is there to stop commercial vans from using the amenity site, but can't there be some way of proving a van is privately owned and insured and not used for commercial use?"

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said this week: "Mr Criddle's comments about the civic amenity site will be considered by officers."