Thousands sign petition against tip booking system

Residents say there are no queues at Bridport's tip

Thousands of people have signed a petition against plans to introduce a booking system at Dorset's tips.

Dorset Council said the system would be introduced across all 10 of its household recycling centres in the autumn to reduce congestion and waiting times.

But, in Bridport, users of the facility at Broomhills said there were never any queues and the plan would disrupt the existing "harmonious process".

Responding to the criticism, Dorset councillor Jon Andrews said the system was also needed to prevent people from using the tip who were not entitled to do so.

The petition, launched by Gill Heathcote, says: "There are never any queues, the staff are efficient, helpful and welcoming, making every visit a smooth and pleasant experience.

"Imposing a booking system may deter many from making impromptu recycling trips, potentially increasing local landfill waste and reducing the community's enthusiasm for recycling."

One signatory described Broomhills as "probably the best run recycling centre in the UK" and "the jewel of Bridport".

Users of Dorchester (pictured) and Wimborne tips often experience queues

In a Facebook post, Bridport town councillor Anna Killick said: "They haven't consulted anyone in the town. The dump works well as it is. This will increase stress and fly-tipping."

Speaking on Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast show, Mr Andrews, who is Dorset's councillor for place services, said: "This is part of a wider effort, protecting essential services through technology rather than cuts.

"We get a lot of abuse of our tips by traders and commercial people coming to use the [household recycling centres] when they should be paying for what they're disposing of.

"And we get visits from other council areas, so we have to deal with the cost of disposing their waste.

"It's not just a case of congestion."

Responding to the claims about fly-tipping, he said: "There are over 130 English local authorities that currently [use a booking system] and Defra did a report in 2022/23 where they researched 54 councils and they saw no increase in fly-tipping.

"Fly-tipping is illegal. Our enforcement team are doing a grand job at the moment... If you fly-tip in Dorset we will catch you."