THE former operators of the Crowndale tip hit back this week at accusations by Devon County Council and the current contractor that they failed to enforce regulations governing the dumping of kitchen waste at the site.

Peter Jones, who ran the site with Christy Lindsell and Keith Hart for many years, said they had enforced the rules rigorously but claimed they were told by their employer — Devon Waste Management — and council officials that they had to accept various materials proscribed by their licence.

The site is run by DWM, which is contracted to Devon County Council, the body statutorily charged with waste disposal. West Devon Borough Council is the body charged with organising the collection of waste.

DWM, in its turn, employs a sub-contractor to run the Crowndale Recycling Centre.

Mrs Lindsell said: 'Devon Waste Management told us to not let kitchen waste in, but there was such a hoo-haa they changed their mind and told us we must accept it.'

Mr Jones said they had turned away hundreds of people exceeding the limits on building waste, but on one occasion West Devon waste reduction officer Kathryn Bellard had returned with one person who had complained and told them they must accept the waste.

'This problem we had a lot — Devon Waste Management often 'phoned and said that even though we had sent people away we had to let them back in,' he said.

'They said it was their tip and if we didn't want to do the job, they would find someone who would — we are a little bit bitter about this.'

Ms Bellard agreed she had taken someone back down the site to dump a load of garden rubble after consulting with the county council.

She said he had threatened to dump it in West Devon Council's car park, despite the tip being nothing to do with the borough.

A senior official for Devon Waste Management was not available for comment.