Birmingham City Council has backtracked on its plans to remove the booking system from two of its household recycling centres
Residents hoping to use Sutton Coldfield’s Norris Way Household Recycling Centre will need to book a slot – after Birmingham City Council U-turns on its recent decision to remove the requirement there and in Castle Bromwich (Image: Google )
Birmingham City Council has performed a U-turn on plans for two city tips amid fears of traffic chaos.
The authority had revealed plans to remove the booking system for two of its five household recycling centres in Sutton Coldfield and in Tameside Drive in Castle Bromwich from tomorrow, Wednesday, April 30.
But Sutton Coldfield councillors, aware of previous traffic problems at the Norris Way site, highlighted concerns raised with them that a removal of the booking system would lead to major congestion.
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The Norris Way site sits close to a railway bridge, which has a three-way traffic-lighted junction, which effectively restricts the road and caused congestion at peak periods.
With the announcement that bookings would not be required, there were fears the traffic jams of the past could return.
The council’s household waste recycling centre appointment page has now returned to its previous appearance and does not now reference changes from Wednesday.
The booking system at all sites – Sutton, Castle Bromwich, Tyseley, Perry Barr and Kings Norton – remains.
The household recycling centre in Tameside Drive, Castle Bromwich was also meant to be having its booking system suspended – but anyone going there will still need to book too (Image: Google)
Tory councillors Richard Parkin (Sutton Reddicap) and David Pears (Sutton Trinity) raised the issue with city environment boss Coun Majid Mahmood when they became aware of the proposed change.
Both said they had not been consulted in advance and, if they had, they would not have recommended ditching the booking system in Sutton because of traffic concerns.
Coun Parkin said he was aghast to learn of the proposed change on social media and residents rather than directly from the council leadership.
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He said: “They don’t know what they are doing.
“It’s a shame it’s taken councillors to ask questions to make them change their mind.
“It’s one disaster after another. Like the green waste. We said: ‘Don’t take money from people if you can’t deliver the service’.
“They took the money and then had to refund people.
“It gives the impression of a rudderless council with no sense of direction or control. It’s confusing for residents.
“It’s the right decision but they should never have tinkered with it in the first place.”
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Coun Pears said: “It’s good they have listened to representatives. It’s a shame that wasn’t done in the first place.
“When you do things that affect people’s neighbourhoods, it’s important you engage with them.
“I hope there are not too many disappointed residents who turn up on Wednesday and find out they have to book.”
In a statement a spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council said: “We have reviewed the booking system at all our recycling centres, and a decision was made over the weekend for the booking system to stay in place across all sites.
“We will continue to review this process across all sites.”