Date confirmed for start of tips booking system

A date has been confirmed for when bookings can start being made for visits to Lincolnshire's tips.

The county council said people would be able to book slots from 30 November, with the system getting under way on 7 December.

The scheme is being introduced at the county's 11 tips in a bid to reduce queues.

There has been some criticism of the move, but Danny Brookes, a member of the council's executive, said: "People don't like change. This is one of the biggest reasons why people don't like it. You've got to give it a chance, we've got to do something."

Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Brookes said: "The problem is a lot of people are turning up at once, all at the same time with the same amount of waste, and the waste streams are full.

"If you've been sitting in a queue for nearly an hour and you can't dispose of your waste, people get pretty angry.

"It's why the staff are getting verbally abused, and you can't have that when they're just trying to help people and do their job."

Brookes said that the council was planning to have the tips open six days a week, but was also looking at staggering the opening hours so they are not all closed on the same day.

Visitors will be able to book up to two weeks in advance, but Brookes said at least 10% of the bookings can be made on the day.

• Bookings will be able to be made online and over the phone.
• People will be given 15-minute time slots when they can arrive at their chosen recycling centre
• They will confirm their vehicle and the types of waste they want to take
• Confirmation will be received by email or text message, and amendments or cancellations can be made

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