URGENT talks are to be held with Clitheroe traders in a bid to resolve the controversy over a "van ban" at a household waste recycling centre.

The traders were furious after being told they must pay for taking waste paper and cardboard to a municipal recycling centre in Clitheroe.

Lancashire County Council wants to charge traders between £8 and £21 a visit to its 23 household recycling centres across the county from May 14.

But Clitheroe and District Chamber of Commerce has launched a campaign to get the controversial charges ditched.

And bosses at Ribble Valley Council said they hoped to come up with a scheme to head off the dispute. The Henthorn Road Recycling Centre in Clitheroe is popular with traders who, rather than leaving their rubbish out for council refuse collectors, are doing their bit for the environment.

They turned out in force at the annual public meeting of Ribble Valley Council, held in Chipping Village Hall, to put forward their case. Jean Jackson, of the Lighting Centre in Moor Lane, said: "I don't have storage facilities at the back of my shop and need to take this waste somewhere.

"If I am prepared to take it to the recycling centre to save it being dumped in landfill, then I should be able to leave it there. I am trying to do my best for the environment.

Stephen Pietrzak, of Ribble Valley Supplies, said: "Eighty per cent of my trade waste is cardboard and I take it to a private skip, where it is recycled for a local charity.

"The borough council could make money from collecting this recyclable waste and all traders want is somewhere to put it."

Jean Parker, of Seasons House of Fashion, added: "If I was to put all my recyclable waste onto the pavement for collection, it would be an eyesore. Something needs to be done about this. It is becoming a serious problem." Ribble Valley Council commercial director John Heap offered to meet the traders in an attempt to solve the problem.

"These centres were set up to accept household waste, not commercial waste, and I believe cars regularly using the Clitheroe site will now be monitored and challenged.

"Traders have never been entitled to use household waste facilities and Lancashire County Council, which runs the sites, is working on the theory that the polluter should pay.

"We are limited as a borough council in the service we can offer, but I'm willing to discuss the matter with local traders.

"The borough council is in the process of applying for a waste transfer licence and planning permission for a recycling skip at an appropriate site, as well as looking at the specifics of recycling cardboard."