Nottinghamshire County Council has outlined seven potential measures to reduce queues at West Bridgford Recycling Centre.
Drivers waiting to turn right into the Rugby Road site regularly hold up traffic. The council is considering banning the turn at peak times, alongside a county-wide booking system for vans starting in January.
If those measures prove ineffective, options include peak-time bookings for all vehicles, restricting access from outside the county and reducing the types of waste accepted.
Conservative councillor Hari Om, who represents the area on the county and Rushcliffe councils, said: “I have kept pressing the council for answers because the existing site clearly cannot cope with demand at busy times. It is welcome that a booking system is now being considered, but consideration alone is not enough.
“Residents in West Bridgford deserve a recycling centre that is fit for purpose. Queues on Rugby Road are a longstanding problem. Reform needs to explain what it will actually do to resolve the issue.”
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West Bridgford is one of three recycling centres earmarked for replacement under plans first proposed in 2022. Gamston was suggested as a possible location in 2024, but work was delayed by local government reorganisation plans, which were paused in September.
Reform councillor Bert Bingham, whose brief covers transport and the environment, told September’s county council meeting: “We are continuing to assess options for the replacement of several (tips) across the county including the site at West Bridgford. Investigations into possible suitable locations for a new facility continue.”
Existing sites will remain open until replacements are ready.
The van booking system aims to tackle prohibited trade waste. Luton vans, box vans, flat beds and vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes will also be limited to six visits a year.
Cllr Bingham said a no-right-turn order was more “cost effective” than bookings for all vehicles. Drivers approaching from the A60 Loughborough Road would need to turn around before entering from the opposite direction.
The seven further measures outlined on 15 October are:
- A marketing campaign to encourage people to use the tip at off-peak times
- A marketing campaign to encourage people to use other tips instead of West Bridgford’s, in order to spread demand more evenly across the county
- Restrict people from coming across their council boundaries to use other tips – such as people from Nottingham city coming to West Bridgford
- Reduce the range of waste accepted at the tip
- Improve how quickly the waste skips are emptied to get customers in and out faster and free up vehicle space
- Change the rules – such as reduce the price – of home bulky waste collections, so people aren’t as inclined to come to the tip
- Introduce a booking system for all vehicles during peak times.
Peak times have not been specified.
Cllr Bingham added: “Until an assessment of the success of the (van booking system and no-right-turn order) is completed, it is premature to decide if further controls will be necessary to reduce demand further.
“Due consideration will be given to such proposals if these measures prove to be ineffective. All of these measures would need to be researched thoroughly, and business cases developed, before recommendations are brought forward for consideration. Our work continues.”
By Joseph Connolly Local Democracy Reporter
