A PROTEST march demanding the scrapping of a "This is a local tip for local people" rule hits Poole next week.

A cross-boundary day of action will see disgruntled householders from Upton and Corfe Mullen descend on Poole demanding free access to Nuffield household waste site.

It is unclear if they will bring bags of rubbish with them - or where they will dump their home-made banners at the end of the protest - but their message is unambiguous.

They are calling on council bosses in Poole, and also Bournemouth and Christchurch, to sort out their differences with Dorset County Council and allow people to use their most convenient household waste tip.

Currently only residents who can prove they are from Poole can use the Nuffield site.

The same "local tip for local people" rule applies in Bournemouth and Christchurch - much to the annoyance of miffed residents living just outside the conurbation boundaries who are forced to travel many more miles to use restriction-free Dorset county council sites.

For Upton people living a couple of miles from Nuffield tip this entails a 14-mile round trip to use the facility at Wareham.

Now Upton and Corfe Mullen residents are going to vent their frustration at what they see as an unnecessary and petty rule.

It all kicks of a week tomorrow at Upton community centre when district and county councillor Fred Drane leads a cross-boundary march to the Nuffield site.

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, is expected to join in as will Corfe Mullen residents.

Ian Poultney, Poole's waste team manager, said: "We are continuing to discuss the issue with neighbouring councils but as yet no agreement has been established."

First published: August 26