RESIDENTS in Crossways say they are being used as the county's 'dumping ground' and fear the situation could get even worse over Christmas.

Parish councillor Elaine Stenning is launching a campaign against increased working hours at a rubbish dump that is just yards from a residential area.

She says that the village near Dorchester is already blighted by refuse lorries going to and from the tip as well as smells, flies and vermin.

And she claims that plans to be considered by Dorset County Council to allow the landfill site to open on bank holidays could make life intolerable.

Mrs Stenning, who lives in Oaklands Park, said today: "We have put up with the landfill site for about six years, but it was previously only open from Monday to Friday, which gave us some respite.

"But now they want to use it on bank holidays and Saturdays too - and it's not just West Dorset District Council's waste, but stuff from other councils.

"On top of that, we have a recycling plant, a sewage works and permission has just been granted for a green waste processing site.

"This is all about 500 metres away from our homes. We have enormous lorries trundling past, which often block the traffic in Warmwell village, as well as smells, methane gas, flies, vermin and other problems.

"They say they should only start at 8.30am, but often the lorries are queuing up outside first thing in the morning.

"They seem to want to make Crossways a dumping ground for everyone's waste."

She and other residents are also angry that the new proposals include a move to allow all further applications to be dealt with by county council officers and the site operators, Viridor Waste Management, with no consultation with the parish council.

Parish councillor Andrew Brewer said: "We have to put up with this all year and now it's going to be at Christmas too, when there will be even more waste. Dorset County Council's head of planning Andrew Price said: "We have had a request to allow work on bank holidays and on Saturday afternoons. That application will need to be considered by the planning committee on December 7.

"It was made by Viridor at the request of the district councils."

Mrs Stenning is now starting a petition against the scheme. Anybody who wants to know more should call her on (01305) 853125.