Tip needs a booking system that works

NOT for the first time has a problem arisen with a developer submitting plans that fall foul of the views of a heritage agency, in this case UNESCO threatening the Derwent Valley heritage site status due to proposals near Derwent Valley Mills.

Surely there ought to be some standing guidelines laid down by such agencies for developers to refer to before wasting the time of others submitting something that is clearly very likely to fail through objections from various sources, heritage or otherwise. Such guidelines would include such as maximum building heights, distance from a heritage item, style of development etc.

I also refer to article on page 11 of the same issue concerning the Raynesway Tip and related issues.

I appears that many are missing the point here! What is needed is a total system that works, and that means compromise all round to remove barriers, and hence excuses for flytipping, to responsible waste disposal whilst recognising that the free-for-all system that previously existed will resurrect the problems nearby traders had with their customers, actual and potential, being unable to get to their businesses on the approach roads, never mind backing up onto a very busy main road.

This requires:

■■Retaining the booking-in system to avoid backing up queues possibly with extended hours if practical.

■■Retaining the 12 visits a year limitation to avoid individuals blocking slots for others backed up by investigating why households need so many visits in the first place. Allowance should be made where for example, somebody needs to conduct a house clearance in a hurry.

■■The council’s waste collection service should be free of charge, unlike at present. Whilst this might mean revenue loss that should be offset by less fly-tipping to clear up. Even if that does not cancel out, surely it is better to maintain clean and presentable communities with less fly-tipping in urban areas or country lanes!

■■Recognise that not everyone has access to a vehicle for various reasons so need to rely on others to help out or wait until the pile of waste is big enough to hire a skip.

■■Better publicity of the options on offer for waste disposal.

■■Take steps, at black spots in particular, to catch the culprits.

Add in some lateral thinking towards solving the problems.

David Gossling, Mackworth