Sutton Liberal Democrats have been accused of "saying anything to get elected" after levying a manifesto-breaking charge to collect bulky waste.

The party has come under fire from both opposition groups for the £10 fee, which breaks a pledge made in the Liberal Democrat's manifesto issued in the run-up to last May's elections.

Labour leader Councillor Charlie Mansell said: "The Liberal Democrats pledged in the May elections that they would keep the bulky waste collection free, but only eight months later they've broken their promise.

"If they can't be trusted on this, what can they be trusted on?"

And leader of Sutton's Conservative group Councillor Edward Trevor added: "The party in Sutton, and generally, has got no morals whatsoever.

"They will say anything to get elected and people are beginning to see that."

Coun Mansell believes the charge will deter people from using the service and add to fly-tipping.

He has already predicted an increase in people dumping rubbish if a proposed ban on people using black sacks for rubbish in addition to their wheelie bins is approved in April.

The Lib Dems have blamed the introduction of the fee on a £135,000 shortfall in parking revenue and the escalating cost of dealing with abandoned cars.

Sutton has spent £56,000 more than expected dealing with the problem this financial year.

This is due to a fall in scrap metal value and consequent rise in people dumping old cars rather than paying scrap dealers around £20 to take them off their hands.

Liberal party spokesman Councillor Tony Brett-Young said there were fears fly-tipping may increase once the charge was introduced in January, but he added: "It was a concern that we had, but there has been no significant increase."

He said people, who may have used the service before for large items, were now likely to take them to the tip themselves.

He said: "The Liberal Democrat administration in Sutton has had a proud record over many years of standing by our manifesto commitments.

"Because of pressure on our environmental services budget, we have had to look for some ways of increasing income.

"I have to say it's rich of the Labour opposition accusing us of going against our manifesto considering their Government has gone back on its election manifesto on university top up fees."

January 29, 2003 10:00