A DECISION to install barriers at an Oswaldtwistle allotment to deter fly tipping has been criticised.

Hyndburn Council announced that it will spend £8,250 on five new gates after the plots were repeatedly targeted.

But Cllr Peter Britcliffe has said the plan for Heys Allotment is a “total waste” of money as the cost of tidying up a single fly-tipping incident is more than £100.

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He said: “I have had allotment owners get in touch with me and they oppose these barriers.

“It’s not the answer for them and it’s not the answer for Hyndburn Council.

“What they really need to do is lower the prices at the tip.

“People don’t want to pay to use the tip and that’s why they fly-tip. They will just go on to drop it elsewhere.”

This year, 34 incidents of fly-tipping were cleared up by the council.

Cllr Ken Moss, cabinet member for allotments, said: “We’re taking this action as this site has had repeated instances of fly-tipping over the years, which is not only a blight on the landscape but costly to clear up.

“We’ve closed or made smaller the largest allotment car parks in an effort to prevent fly-tipping.

“But unfortunately even the tracks leading to the site themselves are now being used by fly-tippers to dump waste.”

The popular allotment site, which is in an isolated spot, has suffered repeated instances of vandals over the years.

In a move to deter fly-tippers, vehicle barriers will be installed there and kept locked at all times, with only allotment tenants loaned keys to access the site.

Cllr Stewart Eaves said: “This site has suffered from lots of fly-tipping.

“The time has now come to take further action to stop these irresponsible individuals from dumping waste there by installing barriers to prevent vehicles from accessing the site.”

The movement of pedestrians and horses will be unaffected at the site, the council has said.

The council is now advising any land owners who require access to agricultural land by using the tracks to get in contact as soon as possible.

Cllr Britcliffe said: “I think it will be wise to make solid plans at the next Oswaldtwistle forum meeting when we know what allotment owners want.”