DORSET Council’s handling of their plans to create a booking system at Shaftesbury Recycling Centre has been labelled a “sorry mess” by councillors.
The criticism comes after Dorset Council initially announced it would be introducing an online booking system for all of its 10 tips in the county in a bid to save money and reduce queues.
The plans received heavy criticism from users, many of whom suggested this would instead increase fly-tipping and alienate those less comfortable with technology.
The council originally said it was “determined” to push through these changes but then rowed back from the plans just four days later, reverting instead to only push through the plans at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne – but not at Bridport, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Wareham and Blandford.
Now, councillors from Gillingham and Shaftesbury have united in opposition to the plans, stating the “whole sorry mess” has disregarded the views of residents.
They are now calling for the plans to be shelved pending a full consultation of the plans.
READ MORE: Petition launched to fight booking system plans for Shaftesbury recycling centre
READ MORE: U-turn on tip booking plans – but not for Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne
FULL DETAILS: Want to visit a Household Recycling Centre in Dorset? You’ll soon need to book online
The letter sent to your New Blackmore Vale was signed by Gillingham councillors Barry von Clemens, Val Pothecary and Belinda Ridout as well as Shaftesbury councillors Piers Brown and Virginia Edwyn-Jones .
It reads: “As elected representatives for Shaftesbury and Gillingham, we stand with our communities in condemning the way changes to how people use Household Recycling Centres have been handled by the Liberal Democrats at County Hall.
“They announced plans to introduce a booking scheme, with no public consultation and no answer to questions about increased fly tipping, increased cost and the thin end of the wedge to introducing charges for this free service.
“Following a massive public outcry, they U-turned on their plans in the south of the county, but booking is still to go ahead in Shaftesbury as a guinea pig for a scheme which most residents think defies common sense.
“The whole sorry mess has shown a disregard for the views of residents, the police and MPs.
“We are calling for the booking scheme in Shaftesbury to be shelved pending a full consultation, with facts to back up the case for the change.
“We urge other Gillingham and Shaftesbury councillors to do the same.”
The new system will cost Dorset Council £120,000 to set up with an ongoing maintenance cost of £20,000 a year.
The council said it has changed its mind over the plans due to financial pressures.
It said the new changes will reduce cross-border use in north Dorset as 20% of waste received at both Shaftesbury and Sherborne comes from outside of the county, “which Dorset Council taxpayers are unfairly paying for.”
They said they’ve listened to concerns from residents – but evidently not from those in Gillingham and Shaftesbury, as a petition calling for an end to the plans has reached 848 signatures.
View the petition here: Oppose Booking System for Shaftesbury Recycling Centre
And click here for a full breakdown of the proposals.
Its iver all or none you cant mess around like this
Ridiculous. And most certainly not needed.
Shaftesbury resident aged 82 windowed no nearby family find digital communication difficult
Will be completely locked out of this system