DORSET Council has rowed back on plans to introduce a booking system for its tips – but only for six of its 10 recycling centres.
The latest proposal will see the booking system implemented at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne – but not at Bridport, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Wareham and Blandford.
The council said it has changed its mind over the plans due to financial pressures – but the controversial plans received a strong amount of criticism from users.
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.”
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It added the new system will be put in place in Dorchester and Wimborne to reduce queuing.
Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said: “We’ve listened to residents and understand their concerns.
“We still believe a booking system is the best way to protect our recycling centres from future service cuts, but this new approach allows us to prioritise the areas with the most pressing issues.”
He added: “We’ve heard from many residents who say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ And we get that. But the reality is, the current service is costing more than it should, and some areas do need ‘fixing’ to a certain extent.
“A booking system will save hundreds of thousands of pounds – money that helps us keep all our HRCs open and avoid reducing hours or closing locations.”
I use the Sherborne tip alot and I am against a booking system as weather is a big factor in when I go. If you want to stop Wiltshire and Somerset residents then start a driving licence as proof of address. No licence no entry.
We should have had a petition for Shaftesbury, like Bridport. After all Bridport is close to a county boundary too. All the objections, and there are many, have been posted on social media especially on the This is Alfred fm radio Facebook page. Sighting extra costs to Dorset residents because nearby Wiltshire residents use the top is nonsense. Shaftesbury residents benefit from Wiltshire subsidised buses and per capita funding in schools from pupils who live in Wiltshire attending Shaftesbury and Gillingham schools. There are so many reasons why the booking system is unnecessary and a bad idea. I suspect that it is the tip of the iceberg which will lead to charging everyone for using tips. False economy I’d say, as there will be far more fly tipping to be cleared up!
Not a good idea
I m from Shaftesbury .This booking system is ridiculous . We never had to queue up . Now why create a problem when it’s all working quite well . I m totally against this booking system