Recycling centre traffic congestion to be tackled

Peak-time queues caused congestion on the roads around York's Hazel Court recycling centre, a council consultation found

Ways of easing traffic in streets around a busy recycling centre would be examined after a "significant" increase in congestion in the area, a council has said.

A consultation over the Hazel Court recycling site had sparked concerns over disruption to nearby businesses and the safety of road users and pedestrians, according to City of York Council.

Options being considered included an online booking system, diverting commercial visitors to another site or restricting usage to city residents, a spokesperson said.

Dave Atkinson, director of environmental and regulatory services, said the authority wanted to find "a balanced solution that supports residents, businesses and environmental goals".

"This review is about exploring practical options to improve safety and access while maintaining high-quality recycling services," he added.

'Growing population'

Since 2009, traffic flow on nearby James Street had increased by about 100 vehicles per hour at its peak, a report to be examined by councillors stated.

The Hazel Court site could accommodate current total demand, but peak-time queues were causing wider problems on the city's roads, the report said.

A trial booking method using the same system operated during the Covid pandemic could be used at the centre, it added.

This would "average out" the number of visits without restricting the total amount as Hazel Court could meet the demand of materials being taken.

Options for the future provision of household waste recycling centre services in York were also being explored, the report explained.

This would "likely be the identification of a site that would better serve York's growing population", it concluded.

Members of the place scrutiny committee are due to meet later this month to discuss the proposals, and a further report was expected to be taken to the council's executive for approval in October.

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