Should tip booking system be dumped?

‘Not everyone has access to online booking or the foresight to make a phone booking in advance’

The future of a controversial booking system used at recycling centres across the district will be decided in the new year.

Kent County Council, which oversees the running of 18 household tips, introduced online reservations last May after the first national lockdown was imposed.

Residents looking to dispose of rubbish have since had to book slots in advance of the day even after all social distancing restrictions were lifted in the summer.

Now, councillors remain split on whether the booking system should be dumped.

A public consultation has already been held - attracting 11,000 responses before it closed on September 30 - with the feedback likely to inform any decision taken on the future of the service.

There appear to be three options on the table - keep the booking system, scrap it, or create a hybrid model that would see online reservations only in place on the busiest days.

KCC’S environment cabinet member Susan Carey (Con) supports the retention of the current system, which has been described as “more divisive than Brexit”.

But Cllr Mike Sole (Canterbury South, Lib Dem) believes it should be scrapped.

“We need to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle their waste,” he said.

“Putting barriers up like this makes fly-tipping more likely.

“People often make last-minute decisions to tidy their garages, gardens or homes, often based on the weather at the time. They need to have the freedom to put it in their cars and drive to the household waste site there and then.

“Not everyone has access to online booking or the foresight to make a phone booking in advance.

“I am not convinced by the arguments to retain the booking system.”

Data shows that 145,000 visits were made by Kent residents to tips in October - including the Canterbury centre in Vauxhall Road and Herne Bay facility in Westbrook Lane - with 51% of all available booking slots taken up.

This was 60% up on January, but slightly down on the yearly peak in August.

Currently, residents can book up to one month in advance on KCC’S website. New slots are added each day.

Some elected members have called to retain the system amid health and safety concerns as coronavirus cases remain high in the county, leading to staff sickness. HGV driver shortages are also impacting on service provision.

Cllr Neil Baker (Whitstable East and Herne Bay West, Con) believes the 11,000 consultation responses should help dictate any future decisions.

“Whatever happens, that is an extraordinary number of responses for a local government consultation about anything and underlines the strength of feeling,” he said.

“Anecdotally, I think the majority of those who have used the recycling centres under the booking system have been happy with the experience. But it’s crucial to find out about those who may have stopped using them due to the system and why.

“Colleagues have different views and I can certainly see the pros and cons when it comes to retaining the system or not.

“I do think there is an argument to keep the system but improve it, to ensure the centres are there for residents to use legitimately when they need to, but at the moment I think it’s important to take emotion and hunches out of it, consider the consultation replies and then look at whatever approach works best for as many people as possible.”

KCC chiefs are analysing the findings of the public consultation, which will be debated in January ahead of any decision being made.

People have to book in advance to use the household waste recycling centre in Vauxhall Road, Canterbury

Concerned councillor Mike Sole is among those who believe bookings should be axed