PEOPLE are flytipping at a Bolton beauty spot because Bolton Council charges people £10 to get rid of bulky waste, a Conservative councillor said today.

Cllr John Walsh, who represents Astley Bridge, found two fridges and other domestic waste dumped near to picturesque Barrow Bridge in Smithills. He has accused Cllr Roger Hayes, the Liberal Democrat executive member responsible for direct services, of going back on an earlier election promise to abolish the £10 charge.

He says Bolton is now a "dirtier place" as a result.

But Cllr Hayes says that there is no evidence that abolishing the charge would reduce flytipping.

Cllr Walsh said: "The Liberal Democrats are all over the place on this issue.

He said: "When faced with the crunch at the budget, he ducked the issue and the charge remains."

Now he says the Barrow Bridge beauty spot has been "spoiled".

He added: "The irony is that this is in Cllr Hayes' own Smithills ward. It would almost be comic if it was not so serious.

"Fly tipping is totally anti-social and causes enormous damage and pollution. I am sure most residents agree that they want to see action against fly tippers but at the same time when the council makes false claims the public need to know the facts."

Cllr Hayes said removing the £10 charge could cost the council around £600,000 a year

He said: "There is no evidence that the charge is increasing the level of fly-tipping in Bolton. People who take fridges and dump them in the countryside are totally despicable and if we get evidence on who has done this we will prosecute them."

He said that the Liberal Democrat-council did not introduce the charge and he had never heard Cllr Walsh argue in favour of removing it.

Cllr Walsh has brought the Barrow Bridge dumping to the attention of council officers and has also asked for action to remove flat pack furniture tipped near to Walker Fold Road, near to the Bob's Smithy pub.

This month magistrates fined a Roy Robinson, aged 21 of Affleck Avenue, Radcliffe, £250 and ordered him to pay costs of £320, after he illegally dumped household rubbish when a Bolton tip was closed.