Opposition would scrap recycling change

People must now book to use the centres in Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Craven Arms, Bridgnorth, and Oswestry

A booking system that Shropshire residents must use to visit recycling centres would be scrapped if the Liberal Democrats were in power, the party says.

Anyone wishing to use the county’s five recycling centres now has to book a slot which the Conservative-led council has said will reduce the cost of disposing of trade waste, non-recyclable waste and waste from outside the county.

But Liberal Democrat councillor Rob Wilson said he had "little faith" any savings would be made.

He proposed abolishing the scheme if the party was in charge of the authority following local elections in six months' time.

Slots can be booked up to six days in advance, with 15 minutes reserved for cars and 30 minutes (60 minutes at weekends) for vans and trailers.

Tory councillor Ian Nellins said schemes elsewhere had "led to a significant increase in recycling, and helped to smooth demand throughout the day, reducing congestion and queuing and making the sites safer".

"We’re confident that will be the case here in Shropshire too."

The new system does not cover Telford & Wrekin Council area but Telford residents can book to use sites in the Shropshire Council area.

Critics of the changes said they had not experienced queues at the sites and feared that adding bookings would increase fly-tipping.

The authority said there was no evidence that recycling centre booking systems elsewhere had led to that happening.

Wilson, shadow portfolio holder for climate, environment and transport, said if people put their trust in the Liberal Democrats in the imminent election, then they would look at cancelling it.

“This is a solution in search of a problem," he said.

"If the Conservatives had listened to the 18,000 people who responded to their consultation, they would have heard that 59% of residents opposed the introduction of the booking system, and only a quarter supported it.

"Comments highlighted that it was too much hassle, unnecessary and counterproductive."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.