Residents and councillors have spoken out against a proposal to reinstall booking systems at tips.
Lincolnshire County Council is looking to deal with long queues at its tips including its West Marsh Road site in Spalding, queuing back on to the road for which has long been claimed to be a safety hazard.
A meeting of the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership attended by the Local Democracy Reporting Service outlined the proposals on the table to the authority last week.
Coun Callum Butler told the meeting: “I think you’ve got your work cut out trying to persuade the public.
“I understand there are costs to opening six days a week, but that’s what residents want and need.”
The county had a temporary booking system during the Covid pandemic, although officials say a new system would be much smoother than that.
Opening the tips up six days a week, one up from the current five, and extending opening hours from 8am to 5pm is another option.
However, officials don’t believe this would bring much benefit for the extra £1.5million it would cost, with traffic tending to be highest between Friday and Sunday.
It could also install barriers that only let in vehicles registered to addressed in Lincolnshire.
This would deal with the issue of residents from other counties taking their waste to Lincolnshire, which officials say is a growing problem.
Although it would save some money, there would be an upfront cost of around £1.1million.
Access to vans and large trailers could also be limited to 12 trips per year.
Chris Yorston, LCC’s head of waste, told the meeting cross-border rubbish was particularly bad in Spalding, saying: “It’s amazing how far people want to travel to get rid of waste because it’s very expensive for commercial operators.”
Norfolk residents have to show proof of address when they visit its council’s tips.
Coun Gary Taylor said of the proposals: “A booking system is not the preferred option for most people that have contacted me.
“The population is increasing and access to the tip should be made easier, rather than increasing restrictions and making a simple trip to the tip a complicated and stressful process.”
It’s due to be discussed by the council’s Executive on Tuesday (July 14).
