BRIDPORT'S bulky household waste depot, criticised for creating smells and traffic queues, looks set to remain at its 'temporary' home... for a ninth year.

Dismayed town councillors say the prospect of the county council finding a permanent site any time soon still looks bleak.

"I'll probably be dead and buried when they do," Councillor Phil Lathey told the plans committee.

Members were discussing an application from the county to extend use of the 'temporary' South Street depot for another three years.

Twelve months was the most the committee would support, although some members felt half that was enough and Coun Mark Parsons reckoned the county should not be given a single extra day.

Coun Sarah Williams said the situation could not carry on indefinitely and the county urgently needed to find a solution.

She said the site was close to the town centre with both residents and the Fisherman's Arms day centre nearby.

When it was warm they had to keep their windows closed due to the smell from the depot and fumes from queuing traffic.

She said: "This particularly occurs when the site has been closed for clearance of waste and cars wait for up to half an hour to get into the site.

"There also seems to be more traffic using South Street than when the tip was opened in 1998 increasing pollution and causing delays."

Coun Lathey said although staff at the depot did a great job the county council had been given enough time to find a permanent home.

Three years from now they would be asking for another three years.

"I will probably be dead and buried when they find a solution to this - it's ridiculous," he said.

"They have a couple of sites in mind but they really do need to get on and do something about it."

The committee agreed to support a maximum of a one-year extension to the temporary site, pointing out their view that it shouldn't be in the town centre at all.