A VOLUNTEER who litter picks in North Cornwall says it’s “ridiculous” that he was barred from returning to a household waste and recycling centre on a bike.

Julian Hutchison was told by a staff member at the Bude dump that he wasn’t allowed in on his bike, which he uses to tow rubbish he has collected in the area.

Mr Hutchison, 74, filmed the encounter and shared it on social media. In the video, he was told by an employee of Suez – which runs the recycling centres on behalf of Cornwall Council – that he’d have to come back in a car as per council rules.

The pensioner, who wears a kilt while litter picking so locals in the Bude area recognise him, uses his bike to pick up rubbish along the A39 to Kilkhampton before working his way back to Bude. He does a couple of visits a week to different places in that part of North Cornwall and the rest of the time walks the streets of Bude picking up litter.

He has a specially constructed trailer on the back of his bike to place items, which also holds his trusty companion, Tashi.

Mr Hutchison tells him he’s been litter picking and has been visiting the centre for years. The staff member says he understands but repeats that unless he’s in a vehicle, he can’t come in. The litter picker then asks that all staff work the same way as that was his third visit to the recycling centre in three days, and he wasn’t reprimanded by other staff.

The worker tells him to come back in a car. “I won’t come back in a car because I don’t own one.”

“Those are the rules I’m afraid, sir, there’s no pedestrian access,” adds the member of staff, telling another customer that people can’t come in on a bike, only cars. The worker says that with the new booking system, there could be more people attempting to visit on bikes.

Mr Hutchison said it’s the second time he’s been banned from the Bude dump for his mode of transport. He previously used a trailer on the back of his motorhome, to remove rubbish from a flystopping spot behind his house.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “We are currently trialling a booking system at seven of the HWRCs which requires all visitors to book a slot in advance. We will update the booking form to enable cyclists to book.

“Cyclists are permitted to visit Cornwall’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs). For safety reasons, pedestrians are not permitted at the sites.

“We are thankful to all the volunteers that help keep Cornwall clean. Anyone planning a litter pick is asked to register with Clean Cornwall and let us know when and where litter picks are taking place. Once registered you can borrow litter picking equipment such as litter pickers and hi-vis jackets, arrange a collection of the waste and use our public liability insurance if you don’t have your own.”