HEREFORDSHIRE Council has said its compulsory booking system to dump rubbish at tips has been very popular.

Initially brought in to control queueing due to the Covid pandemic in 2020, the council has kept its booking system in place as other local authorities have ditched similar initiatives – including in neighbouring Worcestershire.

But there are no such plans in Herefordshire, with the council saying the booking system makes visiting any of the six tips in Herefordshire easier.

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"The booking system is still in place because we believe, on balance, most residents prefer to 'book and drop off' because 'turn up and queue' wastes people's time and fuel," councillor Gemma Davies, cabinet member, commissioning, procurement and assets said.

"Our booking system is popular, easy to use and we get very few complaints.

"Online booking is widely used these days and we provide easy access to the council helpline for those who would prefer to book over the telephone.

"We want to make it easier and less stressful to access our household recycling centres to promote greater recycling and reuse."

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Residents need to book before visiting, Herefordshire Council said.

Allan Corder, of Bringsty near Bromyard, said it was time to ditch the "absolutely ridiculous" booking system.

He said he sometimes spends time booking a slot to turn up at the Bromyard tip and find it completely empty apart from the workers.

He said instead of demanding vehicle booking, the council should be encouraging people to recycle and he had complained to Herefordshire Council.

Conservative councillor Nigel Shaw said some people did like the system, but there were "different views" and others found it inconvenient.

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The update on the tip booking system comes just weeks after the Hereford Times reported the council's plan to introduce charges.

As part of the move, people could be charged up to £10 for taking old toilets, washbasins and soil to the tip – but there are fears people could fly-tip instead.

Herefordshire Council thinks it can save £345,000 by bringing in the charges at the sites, funded through ever-increasing council tax.

As part of its medium-term financial strategy for the tax years between 2022 and 2025, the council has revealed its intention to introduce charges for soil, DIY waste, tyres and plasterboard at household recycling centres from 2024 – but no definitive list has so far been published.