The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed it won’t be removing the booking system for Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh tips this week, despite the Prime Minister lifting all domestic restrictions and encouraging a return to life as normal.
When household waste and recycling centres re-opened after lockdown in May 2020, the local authority introduced a number of restrictions including a strict booking system. It meant that Islanders had to pre-book their visits to the tip in order to keep social distancing.
Social distancing requirements were lifted in July 2021 but the Council kept the booking system in place. However, since then, all bays have been re-opened and the number of visits per week has increased.
Now, as the country moves out of the pandemic and all remaining legal restrictions are lifted, the Council has run out of COVID-related reasons for restricting visitors. It’s now saying that the booking system will remain because it doesn’t legally have to be removed and it has improved the traffic situation.
The use of a booking system effectively reduces the ease of accessing the tip, which in turn reduces the amount of waste being dumped. Many Islanders have drawn a comparison with a recent rise in illegal fly-tipping, as previously reported by Island Echo.
In years gone by, Lynnbottom was open from early in the morning until dusk with no restrictions. In 2022, the site is only open between 10:00-18:00 and must be booked 24 hours in advance, with an exact vehicle registration given.
The Council says that the number of bookings available every day are equal to the full capacity of the site in terms of visitors per hour, but say that the respective days are rarely fully booked.
A spokesperson has told Island Echo:
“The council has received many compliments on the booking system including from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary Road Traffic Enforcement Advisor who has written to the council praising the reduction of traffic issues on Briddelsford Road and noting there have been no adverse reports to the police regarding the Afton Marsh Site since the introduction of the booking system.
“There is no legal reason not to maintain the booking system, as many other local councils have, and the Isle of Wight Council will review this in due course and make a further decision based on the factors mentioned above”.
So the fly tipping will carry on
Smart move council.
I’m quite sure someone who fly tips because of a hurdle of having to book a slot online, would be fly tipping anyway. It’s just that now they have an excuse of “look what the council made me to, not my fault, mom” and they can pretend they had good intentions, it’s just that evil world always against them, and wash away responsibility off their hands.
I popped by yesterday and asked if it was booking system as I had a couple of small items to drop off. The answer was, of course, yes there still is. I noticed the chap pick up and speak into his radio. I drove through – there was ONE car unloading!! Another chap on his radio!! Presumably ensuring I didn’t stop.
Seriously!! What the hell happened to common sense, independent thought and kindness. What has our council become?
Well you should have checked before just turning up shouldn’t you.
Haven’t used tip in 2 year’s, I work and hour’s don’t suit, book 24hrs in advance, that’s no good it might then not be good weather or convenient .I wouldn’t be going with 2/3 bags more like 20 plus all the waste from storm and large DIY jobs,like we all pay council tax for privalage . Not leaving in car all day. Will just have to join all neighbours and have burn day’s and dig some large holes in garden my own landfill . If waste has gone down then where ?. Fly tipping or on private land on farms etc burying
You popped to the tip with two small items…….. You state about “common sense” ? WHY CAN’T YOU PUT THEM IN A BLACK BAG OUT FOR COLLECTION ?
It is people like yourself that causes all of the traffic congestion in the first place !!!!
just getting too bl y lazy it is council workers what do you expect .any excuse not to open up on a 100% basis this council is getting worse .
Oh well that’s no surprise, people have said it will not go back to how it was.
So…. there will be more and more fly tipping and accumulation of washing machines beds mattresses in peoples front gardens and guess what.
The council will have to clear up the fly tipping eventually themselves.
Another move which will only serve to lower the appearance of the Isle of Wight.
Only for the people who are to lazy to book a slot
what about all the people that work the hours the tip is open and closes ????????????
some people dont have computers some people cant use computers. computers should be a choice not forced on you .which is what is happening right now .then you will have more scammers getting in on the act
If it aint broke dont fix it. I have personally found the booking system works well, but as with everything, it dont suit everybody
Good. The booking system is far far better, safer and quicker than the old free-for-all.
I have found the booking system very good glad it is being kept.
The staff very helpful and polite thanks to you all.
Great, Much better system to prebook. I can’t see why people aren’t happy about it. It doesn’t take 5 mins to book online and you can also ring the office and book it with someone if you haven’t got the ways or means online.
The booking system has stopped the road blocking queue, if only the same could be said for McDonald’s.
The Booking System is great !! as long as people turn up at the time that the time they are booked to stop the queue forming on the road back to Robin Hill which still happens .Last time I went there was about 12 cars in the queue the chap on the gate reckons people are booking and turn up 2-3 hours early !!
Then the council will wonder why fly tipping is on the increase.
Pre booking is a much better system and has made the road running past Lynnbottom tip much safer. It’s also much quicker to get in and out. It is hardly an inconvenience to go online and book or ring up to book if you don’t have internet access. Only the pig ignorant fly tip and they would do so no matter what system was in place. I hope this system stays permanently.
Let’s get real, do people really think going back to the old system will stop fly tipping? or even reduce it?
If people fly tip, they do it because they are irresponsible and pathetic human beings only interested in themselves, and Nothing will change their disgusting behaviour.
The current booking system is simple and reduces the long queues and traffic disruption that caused much trouble, having said that a more considerate opening time for people who work between 10am and 6pm would be more appreciated, not everyone can easily fit this into their busy lives and that also includes weekends.
It is so easy to book a slot and usually if there are no issues you are only at LB for max 15 minutes, more than enough time, think too many of us have forgotten what it was like before the booking system. The number of times you had to drive up to Robin Hill roundabout to join the queue waiting to get in was ridiculous and had a knock on effect with other drivers not wishing to call into the tip. Personally I think it is one of the best moves the Council has made.
Lot of talk about fly tipping on this page, fly tippers are just scum, there is no valid reason to fly tip as most of the items can be taken by LB Tip, the fact maybe that they are charging customers to move items rather than pay the business use charge to the Council, hence making money out of others. Not a nice thing to do.
Can’t believe that they have the arrogance to actually justify the retention of the booking system just because, by making it even more difficult for the public to use the site, it resolves the traffic problem they themselves created by reducing the available hours in the first place.
Nice to see this is triggering a debate amongst the Islanders. Shame poverty and the lack of jobs and opportunity does not get as much vocal time as…booking to go to the tip.
Mind your own business Ex Islander !
( Lol X )
The booking system does not work for everyone. I do not want to make an appointment to drop rubbish off because I live as far away as you can get from the tip. So I either have to leave early in case there are roadworks or vehicle incidents blocking a road on route and risk getting to the tip early and have to wait on the road or risk being late and missing the slot I booked. None of this is green or environmentally friendly. As a taxpayer I would like the previous system restored OR a at least a compromise – have some bookable slots every day and some time where you can turn up and take a chance.
Yes and you are special, so you don’t need to book with all us ordinary folk.
As you say you don’t want to book ,Sorry your Highness that is the rules Ma’am.
I don’t mind the booking. But the opening times make it almost impossible for most working people to use the tip on work days. If there is anything that could be changed, an extension beyond 18.00 hours (especially during the summer months) would be greatly appreciated!
Let’s hope the Lynnbottom tip keeps the every other parking bay system as many users are incapable of parking into a single bay.
Be good to be able to go on spur of moment , i know people say booking works but it takes away being able to go when you have a free hour, id prefer that personally
I love the present system and very pleased that it will continue. The staff are always helpful. I have one suggestion that could help fly tipping. Open for no appointments to 10.30 Monday to Friday NO weekends
Good, if it works well (and it obviously does) then why change it? The only thing I would say is that it could be opened before 10am in the morning. Apart from that, it’s fine.
To those complaining that they’re working and the hours don’t suit, what job do you do which means you work 7 days a week 52 weeks of the year?
these council workers are getting lazier every day .when there is not a lot of people in tipping they can just stand around ,they cant blame covid because it is outside and not in a resticted area .lets see if this council will aprove the licence for the Festival this year ,maybe they are frightened of losing the income from the festival ?