CHARGES for collection of bulky waste are likely to be doubled by Redditch Council just a year after their introduction - prompting fears of increased fly-tipping.

But officers assured councillors that fly-tipping was unlikely to rise, despite the charge for one-off collections increasing from £5 to £10.

The service under-performed by £30,000 last year, prompting the review and charge increase.

Despite some strong opposition to the price hike, the executive committee passed the recommendation which will have to be rubber-stamped by the full council.

Labour councillor Andy Fry said at the executive committee meeting: "I don't support it going up to £10. People will not want it and the waste will end up going somewhere else.

"It's not good for the environment and is a bad idea.

"We should have just accepted this would cost us money and given a free service."

But Conservative councillor Pat Wilson said people were more responsible than they were given credit for and would rather pay for one-off collections of their own items than see a council tax rise to cover the cost of other people's collections.

Director of environment and planning Sue Hanley said since the introduction of the charge last year, more people had used the town's waste transfer site and this trend was expected to continue.

Fly-tipping, as a result, was not expected to increase, she added.

The charge for pre-paid collection bags for extra rubbish will remain the same at £5 for five.