Residents’ Objections Fail to Block Waste Booking System
East Sussex County Council is to introduce a booking system at all 10 of the county’s household waste and recycling centres. Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for Transport and Environment, made this decision on Monday this week at a meeting at County Hall, Lewes, after reviewing a report by Rupert Clubb, Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.
A council spokesperson said that the system is expected to be up and running some time before the end of the next financial year.
Mr Clubb’s report made quite explicit the aims of the booking scheme to resolve problems of congestion and queuing at some of the 10 recycling sites at certain times of the week and year; to improve the operation and safety of the sites;
- To save money (estimated at £50,000 per year);
- To ensure that only East Sussex residents are given access.
Operational benefits, experienced (it was claimed) by neighbouring councils that have implemented booking systems, will include
- deterrence of commercial traders;
- customers bringing their waste in bulk and visiting less often;
- managing growth of demand more efficiently.
The council sought advance feedback on the proposed scheme by putting it out for consultation over a nine-week period between mid-October and Christmas. It received almost 6,000 responses – the highest ever recorded by this council department. Of these over 90% were negative (more than 72% “extremely negative”); only 4% were in favour.
Many respondents asked whether a partial booking system could be considered e.g. at weekends or other busy times, or at certain sites only. But this was ruled out by council officers on grounds of inconsistency for operators of the sites and confusion for customers.
Lewes Liberal Democrats subsequently presented a petition opposing the scheme which attracted over 3,000 signatures.
None of this opposition impressed Mr Clubb, who recommended that the council should proceed to set up the booking system. Cllr Dowling agreed, taking into account the financial savings as well the potential benefits identified in the report.
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