West Sussex council leader defends tip booking system
The scheme at six recycling centres has faced backlash
Last updated 18th Mar 2021
West Sussex County Council's leader has told Greatest Hits Radio that only allowing residents to use certain tips once a week will not lead to more flytipping.
Paul Marshall has spoken out after criticism of the scheme, which is being trialled at sites in Bognor, Littlehampton, Horsham, Worthing, Shoreham and Crawley from mid-March.
Under plans, residents are able to book one visit a week up to 14 days in advance, with a set number of slots allocated per half hour.
The scheme is set to run for six months, and could be expanded or suspended at any time.
The county's Labour party have petitioned to have the trial halted, saying that the council 'don't appear to have considered the environmental impact at all'.
They claimed that more fly tipping and less recycling would result from the scheme as many choose to dispose of their rubbish in different ways.
Mr Marshall said that having a system in place was necessary to prevent queueing on roads leading to sites, as had been seen on several occasions during the pandemic.
"The challenges we have faced with our recycling sites has been well-publicised.
"It is important to understand that in maintaining a social distancing environment, this has also meant that we've had to reduce the capacity within these recycling sites, which has obviously co-incided with the turn of the weather when more people are starting to move into their gardens.
"It is a pilot, and we will undertake that pilot from the 29th of March, and we'll look at that and take learnings from that.
"One of the challenges we have is the demand for these sites with the reduced capacity, and clearly the police are concerned about the amount of traffic moving into the highways, so I would really hope residents feel this is a real means by which they can book a slot, be able to turn up at a site and be able to get to that site in a timely matter."
Mr Marshall was speaking as part of our exclusive Leaders in Lockdown interview.
Based on questions from residents, it also featured such as plans to boost tourism in West Sussex when lockdown ends.
You'll be able to see the #LeadersinLockdown interview in full when it premieres here at 7pm tonight.