TALKS to try and solve the county's waste dispute could see Dorset County Council restoring the balance by banning Bournemouth residents from using its tip.

While the restrictions currently prevent householders from outside Bournemouth council's remit using its tip at Millhams, Bournemouth residents are still free to use the county council facility at Wilverley Road in Christchurch.

A recent survey shows as many as 60,000 visits a year by Bournemouth residents to Wilverley Road.

The county council doesn't want to pay for use at Millhams until around 60,000 Dorset residents have used it - but talks to that effect have failed.

Bournemouth council claims that's because it has a fixed-price arrangement with a contractor on the basis that Dorset residents aren't allowed in and that the only way to get round it would be to charge £2.50 per visit.

In an agenda to go before county councillors on Wednesday officers state their ideal: "Local authorities should be jointly providing a seamless service to residents, regardless of where they live."

But, in a bid to improve the situation, they suggest: "The costs could be reduced if DCC in turn barred Bournemouth residents from using Wilverley Road, not by way of retaliation, but solely to make the arrangement more affordable by making compensating savings at Wilverley Road. Every visit generates a direct cost (roughly £2) in dealing with the waste brought in through landfill and transport costs. Driving those visits away would therefore generate real savings."

A revised contract, which could be approved next week, suggests the county council pays for its residents to visit Milhams but that no charge be levied for Bournemouth residents using Wilverley.

Instead the county council would reserve the right to bar Bournemouth residents from its sites.

First published: September 2, 2005