ALMOST 300 people have so far signed a petition calling for Shaftsbury Recycling Centre to be omitted from the upcoming booking system.
Following intense backlash, the council rowed back from introducing it at its 10 tips in the county, opting only to introduce it at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne.
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.”
But Shaftesbury residents say the proposed booking system will create an “unnecessary hurdle”, reduce accessibility to waste disposal and could increase incidents of fly-tipping.
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
A petition set up by Daniel Roberts has been signed by 282 people.
He said: “Historically, the Shaftesbury Recycling Centre has functioned effectively with an open-door policy allowing residents to responsibly dispose of their waste at their convenience.
“Introducing a booking system complicates a straightforward process by requiring pre-arranged appointments, which can deter spontaneous visits often necessary in waste management.”
He added that the plans could disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those without internet access.
The petition instead suggests that Dorset Council could extend opening hours at the site at Wincombe Business Park or hire additional staff to reduce the need for pre-booking.
View the petition here: Oppose Booking System for Shaftesbury Recycling Centre
People will come to the tip, and be refused, ( excuse the pun) not wanting to take it home again, WILL fly tip, without question. That will cost a lot more than the booking in system.
This will cause more fly tipping than already happens around here. This is nuts!
The petition now has 1,358 signatures. The link is https://www.change.org/p/oppose-booking-system-for-shaftesbury-recycling-centre
What is the problem with Wiltshire residents? We don’t charge Dorset residents for using Salisbury Hospital. Perhaps we should. I live less than a mile from the tip at Shaftesbury but in Wilts. The one in Warminster is a 28 mile round trip. It seems pretty obvious which recycling centre I should be using.