Recycling centre now fully reopens

Bath Recycling Centre has reopened fully but not all vehicles are allowed in for now.

Bath and North East Somerset Council had reopened the centre on Midland Road, inset, on weekends from July 18.

Now the site is operating seven days a week - which started on Monday (July 27) - on an appointment-only basis.

However, vans that are more than five metres long will not be able to visit the site and will be turned away if they try and access the site.

Residents with vehicles over this length can use Keynsham Recycling Centre or book an appointment at the Midsomer Norton site.

All other vans with a permit will be able to visit on any day but they must book a slot.

The council said Keynsham Recycling Centre will be returning to its usual opening hours but will remain on an odd/even number plate schedule and textiles are now accepted at all recycling centres.

Cllr David Wood, cabinet member for neighbourhood services and climate emergency, said: “When we reopened Bath Recycling Centre we promised we would go back to a seven day a week service within two weeks, so I’m pleased we can now do so ahead of schedule.

“Our first weekend of reopening has gone smoothly with enough room for safe social distancing and no traffic congestion caused.

“Enough staff have now returned to work after shielding so we are in a position to reopen fully.

“If your van is over five metres long, please use our Keynsham or Midsomer Norton sites.

“Thank you once again to residents for bearing with us during this period.”

Locals were growing increasingly frustrated with the council for not reopening the recycling centre sooner, while the Keynsham site reopened nearly two months ago and the Midsomer Norton one reopened on July 9.

Previously, the council’s website said the Bath and Midsomer Norton sites stayed closed for longer as they were “small sites with a culde-sac layout” and even with reduced numbers it was “not possible” to adhere to two-metre social distancing.

Bath Recycling Centre is open under conditions including:

■ Residents make full use of kerbside services including refuse, recycling, garden waste and bulky waste collections;

■ Vehicles which have not been booked in will be turned away from the site;

■ Proof of booking and residency checks will be carried out;

■ Residents will be limited to two bookings in a seven-day period.

The opening hours are: Monday to Friday, 8am-4.15pm; Saturday, 9am-3.45pm; Sunday, 9am-1pm.

Residents can select a time slot at: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/ bath-recycling-centre.