A PRE-BOOKING system is being introduced at household waste recycling centres (HWRC) in Hampshire, including Somerley.

Hampshire County Council (HCC) says the new pre-booking system will be operating at all the county’s HWRCs from mid-June. A date is due to be announced. This comes after opening hours were extended to cope with demand.

Councillor Rob Humby, the deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and environment at HCC, said: “We have recently extended opening hours, which has helped, but with very high demand and long queues persisting at a number of sites, we now need to consider other options, including limiting visits with a pre-booking system.”

The system will allow for between 25,000 to 30,000 visits per week and people will be able to book several days’ ahead.

Councillor Humby added: “Hampshire has one of the largest HWRC networks in the country, and we recognise how Hampshire residents value the service which has been both convenient and effective in promoting recycling and managing waste. However, the level of demand we are currently seeing cannot be accommodated with social distancing and safe working requirements without long delays, and therefore we will need to bring in more significant changes.”

Until the pre-booking system is up and running, additional customer liaison officers are being deployed to HWRC sites where queuing traffic is causing safety issues or obstructions.

Councillor Humby said: “I’d ask people once again to take notice of highway signs, be considerate of others and not block roads or junctions when queuing.”

Residents have been urged to make use of kerbside collections and only visit an HWRC if they cannot safely store waste at home, but traffic queues have continued to be significant at a number of HWRCs across the county.

Dorset residents looking to visit the Somerley site on Verwood Road will need to book a slot in advance of their trip.

Access to Somerley will still be free for local Dorset residents, although current restrictions will remain in place regarding opening hours, number of trips allowed, and waste types accepted.

Both Dorset Council and Hampshire County Council will continue to urge residents to make use of kerbside collections and only visit a recycling centre at this time if they cannot safely store waste at home.

More details on how to book are to be released go to hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling