EFFORTS to dispose of nearly 2000 tonnes of contaminated mud and debris after devastating floods hit Ottery last year have landed Devon County Council (DCC) with a �50,000 government bill.

EFFORTS to dispose of nearly 2000 tonnes of contaminated mud and debris after devastating floods hit Ottery last year have landed Devon County Council (DCC) with a �50,000 government bill.

The staggering sum, which was accrued though landfill tax after it was deemed that 1,700 tonnes of debris could not be re-used, should be refunded to help protect residents against future disaster according to Ottery's county councillor.

The Herald reported last week how the sizeable operation cost DCC �130,000.

A "horrified" Cllr Roger Giles has asked the council's executive member for the environment Margaret Rogers to request the cash is refunded in view of the "exceptional circumstances" and used to boost flood defence works.

He said: "It does seem wholly wrong that communities that have suffered the extreme misery of a major flooding event, should then find that their council has been penalised by the Government for cleaning up the flood damage and debris."

"I hope very much that the Government will recognise that the circumstances in East Devon on October 30 were quite exceptional, and that there is a compelling case for returning the landfill tax payment to DCC to be used for something constructive - such as flood prevention works".

Material taken from Ottery for disposal at a special landfill site was charged landfill tax at �32 per tonne, resulting in a total bill of �54,400.