Latest news with #bookingSystem
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Dorset Council 'determined' to roll out tip booking system
A council said it is "determined" to introduce a new booking system for its 10 household tips in the autumn despite thousands being opposed to Council said while its proposal has "generated significant public and political debate", it is the "most effective" way of maintaining its current said the system, which has been used successfully elsewhere, would help manage its sites and tackle illegal waste dumping."We understand that any change to a valued public service will raise concerns," Jon Andrews, the council's cabinet member for place services, said. "But this booking system is not about restricting access - it's about protecting it."Other councils have already adopted similar systems with high levels of public satisfaction, and we believe this is the right step to ensure our recycling centres remain open, efficient, and accessible," the Liberal Democrat rollout of the new system will cost about £120,000 but the authority said it will save it £20,000 every year with no change to staffing of people signed a petition against introducing booking, saying that the tips are already operating councillors Louie O'Leary and Gary Suttle will ask colleagues to support a rethink at a meeting on 10 July, which could lead to an approach for individual will say that the way the decision was taken by the governing Lib Dem group was wrong and could lead to increased fly-tipping. "We call on this council to scrap its proposed blanket tip appointment system and instead look at the situation centre by centre in consultation with ward members and the general public," they said in a statement. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thousands sign petition against Bridport tip booking system
Thousands of people have signed a petition against plans to introduce a booking system at Dorset's Council said the system would be introduced across all 10 of its household recycling centres in the autumn to reduce congestion and waiting in Bridport, users of the facility at Broomhills said there were never any queues and the plan would disrupt the existing "harmonious process".Responding to the criticism, Dorset councillor Jon Andrews said the system was also needed to prevent people from using the tip who were not entitled to do so. The petition, launched by Gill Heathcote, says: "There are never any queues, the staff are efficient, helpful and welcoming, making every visit a smooth and pleasant experience."Imposing a booking system may deter many from making impromptu recycling trips, potentially increasing local landfill waste and reducing the community's enthusiasm for recycling."One signatory described Broomhills as "probably the best run recycling centre in the UK" and "the jewel of Bridport". In a Facebook post, Bridport town councillor Anna Killick said: "They haven't consulted anyone in the town. The dump works well as it is. This will increase stress and fly-tipping." Speaking on Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast show, Mr Andrews, who is Dorset's councillor for place services, said: "This is part of a wider effort, protecting essential services through technology rather than cuts."We get a lot of abuse of our tips by traders and commercial people coming to use the [household recycling centres] when they should be paying for what they're disposing of."And we get visits from other council areas, so we have to deal with the cost of disposing their waste."It's not just a case of congestion."Responding to the claims about fly-tipping, he said: "There are over 130 English local authorities that currently [use a booking system] and Defra did a report in 2022/23 where they researched 54 councils and they saw no increase in fly-tipping."Fly-tipping is illegal. Our enforcement team are doing a grand job at the moment... If you fly-tip in Dorset we will catch you." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
