A petition has been launched calling for a booking system to be introduced at Lichfield’s household waste recycling centre.
The facility has seen gridlock on nearby roads with drivers queuing to use the tip.
Staffordshire County Council has introduced a new layout on the site to create more berths for motorists to unload, as well as using enforcement officers to prevent tailback on Trent Valley Road and the neighbouring island.
But a petition started by Kathy Coe MBE – who will represent Labour at the county council elections in May – says more steps are needed.
“Lichfield residents who have had rubbish to take to the recycling centre recently have faced frustration and delays in what should have been a simple routine task.
“The queues of traffic which have built up around Trent Valley have caused problems for everyone travelling in that area.
“The solution is simple – introducing a booking system would be a straightforward and effective way of maintaining the flow of traffic into the centre.”
Kathy Coe MBE
Other local authorities, including Birmingham City Council have introduced appointment systems to manage demand.
“The county council website currently directs you to an alternative tip if you are struggling to take your rubbish to Lichfield, which is run by Warwickshire Council and which has a booking system.
“There are quite a number of sites across the West Midlands region using similar systems.
“This leaves us with the question of why there is no system in Lichfield to ease the congestion and the pressure on the staff to keep the Centre Covid-compliant?
“There is a clear link to people not being able to take rubbish to a tip, and fly tipping. We don’t want to see our lovely city littered with rubbish.”
Kathy Coe MBE
Changes to the site last month saw capacity for cars to drop off their rubbish increased.
Darryl Eyers, Staffordshire County Council’s director for economy, infrastructure and skills, said at the time:
“The work at Lichfield will increase capacity and allow us to handle more users at any one time so we appreciate people’s patience while we finish the work.
“We will continue to have officers on the road outside to help manage queues.”
Darryl Evers, Staffordshire County Council
