NEW fees introduced for the collection of bulky refuse in Richmondshire have survived - despite being rubbished by some councillors.

The district authority's environment committee had already sanctioned a £15 charge for a service which had always been free in the past.

The proposal still needed to be ratified by a full meeting of Richmondshire District Council on Tuesday night - where it ran into resistance led by Dalton-on-Tees ward councillor, Jane Parlour.

"The pile of rubbish on a disused road on the edge of the village illustrates what will happen if this new levy is approved," she said.

"People will simply fly-tip what they don't want any more to avoid paying the £15 charge."

Coun Parlour pointed out that clearing up the resulting rubbish could cost the council more than it made from the new fees.

Defending the policy, Councillor Richard Dunn said the authority has been urged to "maximise its opportunities" by the district auditor; the new fee reflected his instructions.

However, Coun Parlour insisted the council should not "hide behind the district auditor's petticoats" when it came to setting its budgets.

"It is up to this council to decide the way ahead, not the district auditor," she said.

Coun Parlour's suggestion that the new fee should be thrown out was defeated in a subsequent a vote.

"We would like to be able to do everything for free but the fact is we simply cannot," said chairman of the environment committee, Councillor Pat Middlemiss.