Brandywell dump was back in business yesterday afternoon when protesters re-opened the gates less than a hour after Derry City Council officially closed it.
The dump was scheduled to close at 5 p.m. but Derry City Council closed it early for "operational reasons". The site in Eglinton has also closed.
However, shortly before 2 p.m., angry protesters forced the gates of the civic amenity site open a
nd, within minutes, cars were rolling up to drop off rubbish.
Brian McFadden, from the Amenities Action Group, slammed the council decision to close the dump early.
"Five o'clock means five o'clock," he said. "Council knew we planned to protest here and decided to move in early. In my opinion, this site has been illegally closed.
"The council closed the dump behind people's backs. Cars have been coming up here to use the site and, because it closed early, they could have just dumped the rubbish at the gates."
Mr McFadden said the protest group would be back at the site on Monday.
Another protestor, Goretti Horgan, said the number of vehicles, including a charity collection van, which used the dump yesterday showed just how much public support there was to keep it open.
Community worker Roisin Barton said no-one had put forward a plausible case for the dump to be closed.
"On the one hand, Council says it's promoting recycling while, on the other, they're withdrawing the ability for people to do it."
Dan Campbell - who lives directly opposite the drump at Lone Moor Road - said residents were very concerned about illegal dumping.
A spokesperson for Derry City Council last night confirmed the Brandywell site has been resecured.
