Stockton Council were forced to make a u-turn on a policy after local skip hire companies complained that the stringent rules being enforced were causing them to lose business.
The enforcement programme was put in place to tackle the number of un-licensed skips across the borough, but waste management companies have complained that the rules are too ‘heavy-handed’ and need to be addressed.
The council have admitted that they have re-examined procedures in light of the complaints.
Jason Ahmed, 39, from Middlesbrough, skip manager at Thornaby-based hire company Scott Bros, said his firm is one of those which has felt the effects.
He said: “The council insists on very strict regulations, including cones around the skip, chevrons and lights. I can understand that, but they are so heavy-handed about it.
“They take the skip away if there’s the slightest problem and it can cost us up to £1,000 to get it back.
“Sometimes these things are out of our control – for example if someone comes along and moves a cone. Our name and contact number is on all our skips so I don’t see why they can’t just ring us and say there’s a problem.”