Waste and recycling sites to reopen - but with tough traffic restrictions

Cars will not be allowed to park or queue on Old Shoreham Road or Wilson Avenue when the city’s recycling sites, or tips, reopen today (Monday 18 May) at 10am.

Strict traffic measures will be in force with people driving to the site only being allowed to queue on the smaller access roads leading to the tips, and not the major approach roads.

If the tip roads are full, drivers will be asked to move and told to return when the queues are shorter.

Only cars will be allowed on site, with no trailers, vans or camper vans being given access. Pedestrians - those on foot and not in a car - will not be allowed to enter the site.

At busy times, we will close the queues an hour before the site closing times to manage physical distancing, so please get there early.

People could be waiting hours to enter the sites

We realise residents will be anxious to use the sites, but people must also know they could be waiting hours before they get to the front of the queue and onto the site.

Due to the restrictions, the council is appealing to people to only visit the sites if waste cannot be stored at home without it causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the household members. 

Our Bulky Waste service is also restarting this Monday which will help people wanting to get rid of large items like mattresses, tables, chairs, fridges and other white goods. 

The tough restrictions are part of the plans to ensure the safety of staff, everyone using the Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRS) and all other pedestrians and passing traffic.

The temporary opening hours will be:

  • Hove: Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm; Saturday 8.30am - 1.30pm; Sunday 10.30am - 1.30 pm. The site is closed on Bank Holidays.
  • Brighton: Monday - Sunday and Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm.

Please note, although the sites close at the above times, queueing stops an hour earlier to allow everyone in the queue to enter before the gates are closed.  

Social distancing must still be observed

They also include staff ensuring social distancing while people are queuing and are on-site.

If the safety of staff and everyone using the sites cannot be ensured, the council could be forced to close the sites again.

Councillor Anne Pissaridou, the council’s chair of Environment, Transport and Sustainability, said: “The sites have been closed for around seven weeks, so we appreciate residents will have a lot of waste and recycling they want rid of. 

“We want to try and avoid the sites being swamped by traffic, with people having to wait hours which will be very annoying and frustrating. So, it would be best if people can wait another few weeks until the early rush has finished.”

Councillor Pissaridou added: “We will do our best to ensure traffic to the sites flow as quickly as possible, but we want to alert people that queuing or parking on Old Shoreham Road or Wilson Avenue will not be allowed.”

No right turn from Old Shoreham Road

A further restriction at the Hove site includes cars not being allowed to turn right into the site from the Old Shoreham Road.

Other restrictions include:

  • Anyone in self isolation or with Covid-19 symptoms must not visit the HWRSs under any circumstances
  • Cars only. No trailers, vans, commercial-type or oversized vehicles will be allowed on-site
  • The number of vehicles on site will be fixed at any one time
  • No pedestrians. Those on foot and not in a car will not be allowed to enter the site 
  • Physical distancing of two metres must be observed
  • The number of parking bays will be limited
  • Only one person will be allowed to use the access steps at any one time
  • Staff will not be able to assist with unloading
  • The re-use shop at the Hove site will remain closed
  • Anyone caught fly-tipping at or near the site will face an automatic £400 fine.

Our Bulky Waste service also restarting

The Bulky Waste service starts this Monday (18 May) with its contactor KSD Environmental Services already taking bookings. The company can be contacted on 01273 608 142 from 8am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Councillor Pissaridou said: “Reopening our Household Waste Recycling Sites and restarting our bulky waste service will really help residents get rid of their extra waste and recycling. 

“But please remember both services will be extremely busy, and we’re asking for everyone’s patience until we can resume the services as normal.” 

 

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