In a further blow to Dudley residents, Sandwell Council has confirmed that their household recycling centre at Shidas Lane in Oldbury will not be made available for non-Sandwell residents.

Dudley Council contacted the authority to discuss the potential for people living in the borough to be given access to use the recycling centre after a contract with the City of Wolverhampton Council broke down.

The neighbouring authority demanded a rise of more than £130,000 a year to secure ongoing use of the site in Anchor Lane, Bilston.

However Dudley’s decision makers refused to pay the increased fee and said they were left with "no alternative but to end the agreement" as of April 1.

Today, Sandwell Council have confirmed they will not allow the tip to be used by people from outside Sandwell. A spokesperson said:

“We’re unable to open up our facilities for use by people from outside the borough. We only have one recycling centre in Sandwell, and we need to ensure that it is available for Sandwell residents to use.”