Leader dismisses petition against tip bookings

The booking system was introduced at the beginning of November across West Northamptonshire

A council leader has dismissed a petition against a new booking system that has been introduced for its recycling centres.

It was brought in on 3 November for the six tips in the West Northamptonshire Council area, to ensure only waste produced by local people gets processed and to reduce queues.

The Liberal Democrat group presented a petition with 700 signatures, saying there was a "glaring lack of consultation" and highlighted residents' worries over fly-tipping and overflowing kerbside bins.

However, Reform UK council leader Mark Arnull said the system was "delivering some good for our residents already".

The council said its centres received more than 21,000 visits in the first few weeks of the system operating, with two-thirds made on the same day the appointment was made.

It said it had received "predominantly positive feedback", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Speaking ahead of the petition's introduction, Arnull explained that the decision was negotiated under the previous Conservative administration in its waste contract renewal, but stated that the booking system was "delivering some good for our residents already".

But Liberal Democrat councillor Stewart Tolley, who presented the petition at Thursday's full council meeting, said: "The number of signatures gathered over a short period of time reflects the public's shock and dismay over this move."

He added it would have been "more appropriate" to trial booking systems at waste centres.

In response, Arnull said: "I'm not sure this petition is anything more than a load of rubbish itself.

"In week three of the booking system, 89% of the visits at the recycling centres across West Northants were from bookings, so there is a significant move there that people are adopting the system and they do understand."

West Northants' Lib Dems said the petition would now be considered by the council, and they would share the formal response once received.