Praise and criticism over tip booking plan rethink

The system will be introduced at Dorchester to help reduce congestion

A revised plan to roll out a booking system at Dorset's household tips has been met with both praise and criticism.

Following a backlash, Dorset Council said it would halt plans for the booking system at six of its household recycling centres while it assessed its impact at four others.

South Dorset's Labour MP Lloyd Hatton hailed the rethink as a "victory for common sense" but Conservative North Dorset MP Simon Hoare said a single solution was needed for everyone.

The council administration was praised by fellow Lib Dem Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, who said he was "grateful" it had adopted "a flexible approach".

Dorset Council initially said residents would have to pre-book to use any of its 10 household recycling centres from the autumn, to reduce congestion and prevent misuse by commercial users and people from outside the county.

After widespread objections, the scheme will now be rolled out at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Sherborne, while "alternative measures" are explored for Bridport, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Wareham and Blandford.

More than 4,000 people signed a petition against a booking system in Bridport

Dorset's place councillor, Jon Andrews, said: "We've listened to residents and understand their concerns."

But Mr Hoare, in a Facebook post, said: "This is simply not good enough.

"These councillors appear to have forgotten they are 'running' an unitary council and not a series of district councils.

"Policies regarding waste and recycling need to be uniform across the council area."

Mr Hatton said: "After weeks of campaigning and public pressure... working together, we've got Dorset Council to finally listen to us."

Mr Morello said: "Ultimately the council is trying to ensure access remains easy, save money, and cut down on abuse.

"I'm grateful that the council has therefore decided to adopt a flexible approach that balances the needs of the sites where there are problems and those where there aren't."