Tips will re-open - but residents can expect new controls

Fears over a rise in fly-tipping have increased the pressure on authorities to reverse the closures, imposed as part of the lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Communities minister Robert Jenrick told the House of Commons he wants to see councils re-open household waste centres “over the coming weeks” and said advice has been provided to ensure it can be done safely.

But services are likely to be limited when facilities finally get back up and running, with pre-booked timeslots one option being considered to ensure people stick to social distancing measures.

Blackpool Council has confirmed it is working on plans to re-open its Bristol Avenue tip, in Bispham, which has been shut since March 25.

A spokesperson said: “We are awaiting further government guidance on how we can re-open our tip in a safe and controlled manner.

“We are working on a recovery plan that conforms to all rules around social distancing and non-essential travel.

“As soon as we are able to advise on how residents can resume use of the Bristol Avenue facility we will do so.

“The safety of staff and residents will remain paramount. In the meantime, the tip remains temporarily closed. We would ask all of our residents to respect the laws against fly-tipping.”

Mr Jenrick said: “The Government published advice to councils on how to ensure the safety of refuse collections on April 7 and (now) I’m asking councils to plan the organised re-opening of household waste collection sites.

“I expect this to happen over the coming weeks and will be publishing amended guidance shortly.”

While Blackpool Council has given no details of its plans for re-opening the tip, neighbouring Lancashire County Council (LCC), which runs the facilities at Jameson Road, Fleetwood, and Salcotes Road, Lytham, expects to introduce temporary measures including having to pre-book a timeslot to visit along with temporary restrictions on the types of waste which will be accepted.

Coun Albert Atkinson, LCC’s cabinet member for waste management, warned people to expect as “much more limited service than they are used to”.

The closure of tips has led to fears of an increase in fly tipping by irresponsible residents wanting to get rid of waste.

Coun Fred Jackson, Blackpool’s cabinet member with responsibility for environment, said: “Our household collection service remains largely unchanged, so there is no reason to fly tip.

“We ask that residents keep hold of anything for now that they would normally take to the recycling centre at Bristol Avenue and not leave anything on pavements or back alleys.”

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the Conservatives on Blackpool Council, said it was likely residents did have larger quantities of waste to dispose of due to bin collections now being fortnightly.

He warned some people were burning rubbish in their back gardens and suggested large commercial bins and skips could be provided at specific locations to help residents dispose of additional rubbish.

Coun Atkinson added: “I also want people to know that we’re just as keen as they are to see the (recycling) sites reopen, and are putting in place arrangements for this to happen as soon as we reasonably can once the government gives the go-ahead.

“We’re currently ironing out the full details, and I would I ask people to watch this space. However we’re aiming to be in a position to provide the service again as soon as we can.”

Last week, more than half of Lancashire’s district councils wrote to county council leader Geoff Driver calling on him to reopen the centres, amid concerns over an increase in fly-tipping.

At the time, he responded by asking them to reflect on the potential impact of such a move on the NHS and said they might need police to help facilitate reopening.