A DISPUTE between Leeds and Bradford Councils which would stop residents who live just yards from a Leeds tip disposing of their waste close to their homes is on the brink of being resolved, according to an MP.

Shipley MP Philip Davies has now received a letter from Bradford Council which hints that an agreement could be reached with Leeds City Council allowing Menston residents to continue using the Ellar Ghyll Household Waste Site.

"I have been pushing Bradford Council to sort this out," Mr Davies said.

"It was a mess they created by not allowing residents outside of the district to use its sites, which in turn meant my constituents living yards away from the Ellar Ghyll site were expected to travel miles to dump their rubbish.

"I am pleased I have been given some reassurances but I will keep pushing this case until we get the outcome we want.

"Councils should work together in the interest of residents and find a common sense solution. People should be able to take their rubbish to the nearest tip."

The letter to Mr Davies from Bradford Council's Environment and Sport department stated: "Discussions are ongoing with Leeds Council with regard to monitoring and payment for the use of Ellar Ghyll by Bradford residents and, whilst I have no reason to believe they will not be concluded satisfactorily, no final agreement has yet been reached.

"In the meantime the Ellar Ghyll Household Waste Site continues to be open to residents from Bradford District."

Mr Davies previously raised the matter in Parliament and former Bradford Council Leader and then Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles condemned the council for failing its residents.

Leeds claimed it had no choice but to move towards a resident-only waste tip after Bradford tightened its restriction.

Leeds Council began tightening up restrictions from April on who can use its waste sites following a similar move by Bradford almost two years ago.

At the time, Neil Evans, Leeds City Council's director of environment and housing, wrote to Mr Davies to say it was “with some regret” it would have to close its doors to non-residents.

In that letter Mr Evans said: “Bradford introduced their restrictions in July 2013 and this effectively meant that any options for our residents to use sites in the east of Bradford (Bowling Back Lane and Midland Road) ended."

A spokesman for Bradford Council said they would not be commenting on Mr Davies' suggestion that a resolution to the issue of Ellar Ghyll waste tip was imminent.