Decision details
Retention of the Recycling Centre Booking System (WL)
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services
Decision status: Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
As part of the re-opening of the recycling
Centres during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, a booking system was
introduced at the Midsomer Norton and Bath Recycling Centres.
The booking system received positive feedback from site users.
Surveys indicate overwhelming support for it to remain in place now
that COVID restrictions have been removed as the system eases
congestion, speeds up visits and makes for a more pleasurable
customer experience
Retaining the booking system provides several benefits; residents
have certainty that they will be able to access the site at the
time booked and no wasted trips as the site is too busy; it reduces
vehicle queues and the associated pollution from idling engines,
alongside removing any congestion on the surrounding road
network.
Keynsham Recycling Centre would remain as a site with no booking
system, so that residents can access this at any time during
opening hours.
Decision:
The Cabinet Member agrees that:
- The booking system will be retained for residents using Old Welton and Bath Recycling Centres on an ongoing basis.
- Keynsham Recycling Centre will remain as a site with no booking system.
Reasons for the decision:
Prior to the booking systems being introduced residents would visit any of the three recycling centres and join a queue to enter. At peak times these queues could be significant and would be a significant source of frustration to site users.
Positive feedback was received from members of the public regarding the benefits of the booking system, with requests received for it to remain in place once the COVID restrictions had been lifted. Benefits cited were that visits were quicker, and they did not waste time or fuel sat waiting in queues or visiting the site and finding the queues too long to wait or already closed.
A Consultation was carried out on the council website during January and February 2021, from which 87% of respondents wanted to retain the booking system at Bath & Midsomer Norton once social distancing had been removed
During the time that the booking system has been in place no problems with queuing on the highway have been experienced at Bath or Midsomer Norton, resulting in improved traffic flow on the road network and reducing localised pollution from idling engines.
Following the positive feedback and the benefits of reduced traffic congestion and queuing seen as a result of the boking system, it was recommended that it remained in place at Bath and Midsomer Norton. To enable residents the flexibility of using a site without booking it was recommended that it is currently not introduced at Keynsham Recycling centre.
Alternative options considered:
Introducing a booking system at all three Recycling Centres was discounted to retain some flexibility so that if a resident cannot wait until a slot is available, they still have the option to visit one recycling centre.
Introducing a part time booking system only on certain days/times was discounted due to the potential confusion it could cause to residents as to what days and times you needed to book.
Publication date: 09/02/2022
Date of decision: 08/02/2022
Effective from: 17/02/2022
Accompanying Documents:
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