Service is great from our recycling centres

FOLLOWING on from Frank Edgar’s letter in the Newbury Weekly News of October 7, I would like to make a few pertinent points regarding the recycling centres.

1. I personally have been using the appointment booking system at Padworth on a regular weekly basis for the last six months and find that it means that there are never any queues, not even on a Monday morning.

2. The staff are extremely cheerful and helpful and I have had long conversations with them about abuse they have received.

3. The main cause of abuse comes from members of the public who are unaware of the booking system and generally not following the instructions of the staff.

As far as booking is concerned this system has been in operation for nearly 18 months so there is no excuse for turning up without an appointment.

4. As far as staff flexibility is concerned, I have been told if someone genuinely turns up without an appointment and is fairly contrite and apologetic, if there is space, they may be allowed to dispose of their rubbish.

However if the staff are confronted with a lot of abuse they quite rightly tell the person to go away and book.

5. I am sure there are a lot of members of the public who welcome the booking system, as do the staff at the recycling centre. With a large garden I used to burn all of my green weeds and cuttings as queueing at the recycling centre was not good for the heart rate.

However, burning is detrimental to the environment and recycling is now a pleasure that I look forward to.

I sincerely hope that the booking system continues on a permanent basis - it is one of the few benefits of the Covid pandemic.

RICHARD MADDERN

Chapel Row