WHEN a ban on vans using public tips was brought in across East Lancashire there were plenty of warnings of what was likely to happen.

It didn't take a genius to forecast that rather than spend time and money irresponsible people would just dump rubbish at the roadside.

The ban meant that vans were no longer able to use Household Waste Recycling Centres unless drivers had a special permit.

And even if they obtained the permit they would only be allowed to dump household waste.

Business waste had always been banned from such centres although it is arguable that when vans were allowed into them a fair amount of trade waste slipped through the net when businesses should have been paying for it to go to elsewhere.

Now in a report county councillors will be told that "it is likely" that a van ban has contributed to increased reports of fly-tipping.

The county council introduced the new system because the council taxpayer was in practice footing a trade waste bill of up to £1m a year.

That reasoning was sound but what about the cost of cleaning up after fly-tippers?

The original decision should now be reviewed. Meanwhile offenders should be hunted down and hauled into the courts where magistrates shouldn't hesitate to use punishments like £20,000 fines and imprisonment.