Coronavirus: Long queues as recycling centres reopen

People began queuing outside Christchurch tip more than an hour before it opened

Traffic jams have been blocking roads around household recycling centres in the south of England as many open for the first time in nearly two months.

People began queuing at Christchurch tip at 07:45 BST and, by the time it opened at 09:00 BST, about 70 cars were already in line.

Traffic delays of 20 minutes were reported near Bournemouth's tip at Millhams at 09:00.

Councils are urging people to stay away if possible.

Dorset Council said its tips, with the exception of Sherborne, were opening for waste that was "posing a risk of injury, health or harm" and could not be stored safely at home.

It also urged people not to arrive at the sites early, adding: "This could stop staff getting to the household recycling centre, hampering the removal of waste and delaying the opening of the site. It may also prevent local residents from getting to work."

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council has implemented additional traffic measures around its recycling sites to mitigate congestion.

The authority said the queue at its Nuffield tip in Poole had reached the toy superstore by 08:30, about half a mile away.

It tweeted: "If you do decide to come, expect long wait times & please treat our staff with respect."

The queue outside Nuffield tip in Poole was about half a mile long

Heavy traffic was also reported around a number of Hampshire tips which opened at 10:00.

"Queue cams" to allow people to see the length of the queue before they set off were also out of action on Monday morning.

In Marchwood, Southampton, queues for the tip were stretching back to the Bury Road roundabout an hour before opening, according to parish councillor Richard Young.

"Signage has been put in place directing drivers not to queue on the roundabout, however, some are already ignoring this and needlessly placing other roads users at risk," he said.

By 14:00, two hours before closing, Southampton City Council had stopped people joining the queue, which had been two hours long for much of the day.

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Cars were stopped from joining the queue at Marchwood by 14:00

In Windsor and Maidenhead, residents of each council ward are being allocated set days when they can visit Stafferton Way recycling site which reopened at 08:00, although key workers can visit any day if they bring identification.

But borough councillor Donna Stimson said, despite the entry rota, cars had begun queuing at 07:00.

On the Isle of Wight, entry to tips is by pre-booked appointment only and one-way systems have been set up to avoid blocking roads.

Slough's Chalvey recycling centre has also reopened but facilities in Reading, West Berkshire, Bracknell and Wokingham remain shut.

Oxfordshire said it would reopen its tips on 18 May.

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