DISTRICT councillors are demanding a meeting with their county council counterparts to ask why they weren't consulted about a decision to introduce a permit scheme at household waste recycling centres.

Members of Wear Valley District Council's community services committee say they are having to face the consequences of the decision to implement the permit scheme which came into force last year.

The scheme means that householders need to apply to the county council for a permit in advance if they want to use a van, pick-up or a trailer to dump rubbish at any of the household waste recycling centres in the county.

The permit system was introduced in December to stop businesses illegally using the site for nothing.

Max Coleby, acting director of community services at Wear Valley District Council, told councillors that the permit scheme was putting added pressure on the district council's bulky waste collection service and also encouraging residents to begin fly tipping.

Mr Coleby also said that the county's closure of The Brown Houses civic amenity site in Frosterley was adding to the problem.

He said if the trend continued the district council would have to consider spending an extra £5,000 per annum on overtime and a further £42,500 per annum if extra vehicles and crews were required to meet the demand for the collection of bulky goods.

Council leader Olive Brown said: "This is a typical piece of non-communication by Durham County Council. I think we need to arrange a meeting with the county council to explain their actions to this committee. This is terrible. People are just going to dump their rubbish anywhere and it is us that will have to pay the bill."

The council has now written to the county council in a bid to set up a meeting to try to reach a compromise on the permit scheme.

Coun Brian Myers, Durham County Council's cabinet member for waste management, said: "We shall respond in detail to Wear Valley District Council's letter once we have received it.

"For the moment, however, it is worth bearing in mind that while the district council say the introduction of the permit system could cost them - and therefore the council tax-payers - something in the region of £43,000 a year, the illegal use of our household waste recycling centres, if left unchecked, could cost the county council - and ultimately the council tax-payers in County Durham - £1m in extra waste management costs this year alone, or around £4 for every household in the county."