Calls to ease traffic restrictions at dumps
Drivers ‘disrupted’ by queues for recycling centres
Council chiefs must lay out how they plan to bring traffic restrictions to an end at recycling centres, a Paisley councillor has insisted.
Since Renfrewshire’s five tips reopened at the start of June, there have been controls in place to limit the number of cars which can enter each site, with all visitors asked to join a single file queue.
Initially, residents were only allowed to get rid of bagged household waste, but throughout last month council bosses gradually lifted restrictions on what items could be brought in.
And now there is no limit on what materials people can get rid of, Councillor John McIntyre has quizzed the council on when they plan to pull the plug on controlling traffic.
The Paisley Northwest representative put the question to environment and infrastructure director Gordon McNeil at the latest emergencies board meeting, but got no answer.
Councillor McIntyre said residents in his ward had complained to him about being impacted by the queues at the Underwood Road tip and highlighted neighbouring councils - such as Inverclyde - have already loosened the reins on traffic management.
“It was disappointing the council officials were unable to offer any sort of timescale as to when we might see an easing of some traffic control measures at our recycling centres, “said Councillor McIntyre.
“While I fully understand the need to have safe procedures in place at our centres, we need to have a plan in place as we continue the easing of lockdown restrictions. This has been raised with me by residents in my ward who are directly impacted by being located near to the centres.
“Neighbouring councils such as Inverclyde have managed to do away with traffic restrictions so I see no reason why Renfrewshire cannot follow suit.
“I call again on officials to look at how the traffic management can be eased and our recycling centres can be visited safely, but without excess disruption.”
From Monday, opening hours at two centres will be extended, with hubs at Erskine and Renfrew now set to be open five days a week.
Both tips will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. The Erskine site will also be open every Wednesday and Sunday, while the Renfrew centre will welcome visitors on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The move has been brought in a bid to try and ease queues which have been forming as restrictions on accepted items have been eased.
Vans and trailers will additionally be able to access the Linwood site in Middleton Road from Monday, after being barred from all hubs since they reopened.
Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “During the current pandemic, the safety of our staff and residents is of paramount importance.
“Traffic management is in place to ensure that physical distancing can be carried out appropriately on site, as well as ensuring the flow of traffic is maintained in the areas around each recycling centre.
“Demand for our centres is high at the moment so we would ask anyone using them to be patient if required to queue and we’re extending the opening hours at Renfrew and Erskine from 13 July to help mitigate this too.
“We will keep our traffic management measures under continual review, and some may change quicker than others, but safety will remain our highest priority at all times.”
We want our recycling centres to be visited safely but without excess disruption to drivers