Discussion
Bloody council tips.
Pre-Covid, yes there were large queues on weekends in the summer but the council staff love this new booking system because none of them now have to manage the queues, they can now stand next to the skips, smoking roll-ups and police what goes in what skip.
We are now limited to one visit per week, so if you have a big garden/DIY project you have to store all the waste in your garden and trickle feed it to the tip by weekly visits, by which time it will be soaking wet.
Also, picture this scenario: You wake up and it's a dry sunny day and you think, right let's get that big DIY/Garden job done, previously you went to the tip at the end of the day with the rubbish (even if there was a queue). You could go the next day too if needed, and the next (still not going to be 52 trips per year though). Now you go on-line and discover there are no slots available at the tip for ten days, brilliant.
Also, they are closed Wednesdays, no doubt so the council workers can catch up on their inclusion and equality courses.
When the booking system first started there was a council worker stationed at a barrier checking everyone's email booking. They soon found that task too tedious so they added a QR code to your email and installed a QR scanner next to the barrier. Council worker can now retreat to a little hut and drink tea and read the Daily Star and wait for the occasional driver who is too thick to figure out how to scan their QR code.
Also, what is all this checking post codes nonsense anyway? Was it really a problem where people were sneaking into tips from outside their post code area? Why would anyone do that? And the numbers were surely small. Say ten people a week were sneaking in from another area, using that logic then is it not likely that this was reciprocated by ten people sneaking from your area to another area? Balancing out this whole post code pirates nonsense?
This is in The People's Republic of Swindon
For me, this whole council tip drama has been one of the worst hangovers from Covid.
Pre-Covid, yes there were large queues on weekends in the summer but the council staff love this new booking system because none of them now have to manage the queues, they can now stand next to the skips, smoking roll-ups and police what goes in what skip.
We are now limited to one visit per week, so if you have a big garden/DIY project you have to store all the waste in your garden and trickle feed it to the tip by weekly visits, by which time it will be soaking wet.
Also, picture this scenario: You wake up and it's a dry sunny day and you think, right let's get that big DIY/Garden job done, previously you went to the tip at the end of the day with the rubbish (even if there was a queue). You could go the next day too if needed, and the next (still not going to be 52 trips per year though). Now you go on-line and discover there are no slots available at the tip for ten days, brilliant.
Also, they are closed Wednesdays, no doubt so the council workers can catch up on their inclusion and equality courses.
When the booking system first started there was a council worker stationed at a barrier checking everyone's email booking. They soon found that task too tedious so they added a QR code to your email and installed a QR scanner next to the barrier. Council worker can now retreat to a little hut and drink tea and read the Daily Star and wait for the occasional driver who is too thick to figure out how to scan their QR code.
Also, what is all this checking post codes nonsense anyway? Was it really a problem where people were sneaking into tips from outside their post code area? Why would anyone do that? And the numbers were surely small. Say ten people a week were sneaking in from another area, using that logic then is it not likely that this was reciprocated by ten people sneaking from your area to another area? Balancing out this whole post code pirates nonsense?
This is in The People's Republic of Swindon
For me, this whole council tip drama has been one of the worst hangovers from Covid.
Personally quite like the new pre book system. No 30min queue to get in. If I get a job done on a nice day I just pile the rubbish at the side of the house and book a slot for the next weekend.
Our local started with the postcode thing but gave up after they came to an agreement with the other local council.
The bit that gets me is the pay to take in certain rubbish, I haven't had to pay yet but the list of items you have to pay for is getting longer.
Our local started with the postcode thing but gave up after they came to an agreement with the other local council.
The bit that gets me is the pay to take in certain rubbish, I haven't had to pay yet but the list of items you have to pay for is getting longer.
My local council (Kirklees, West Yorkshire) tip is great. You have to register your car (up to two per household, which I dutifully have done but I've never actually been checked) but other than that you can turn up as often as you need to, and it's open Saturday and Sunday. They even take old car tyres.
I realise this is no help to you OP, but I wanted to bring some balance and say that they aren't all bad
I realise this is no help to you OP, but I wanted to bring some balance and say that they aren't all bad
WelshRich said:
Ours has been back to normal for ages (Staffordshire)
I went to our local tip (Staffordshire) 4 times over the weekend, no booking, just turn up and dump. Staff couldn't have been more helpful. When I asked if i could make a return visit after my first load, as I had a few trips to make, they said as long as it's not trade waste I could return as often as needed. Even helped me unload my car.Senex said:
WonkeyDonkey said:
Hire a skip
170 quid a time.Council tip is really for the odd item but if you have a significant DIY job then skip is the proper way. I guess that's why the council had to put this rule in or they could have increased the council tax to account for the extra disposal cost.
The one in Reading is very good, massive place. Only available to Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham residents. Book a time slot online, take proof of address. Wave it all to the bloke at the barrier and in you go. No big queue, guys wonder around and help you with heavy stuff, in and out in no time.
Our local council has had the booking system in place for a couple of years. I guess it’s so they know a) you live within their authority, and b) no visits if you’re not paying your council tax.
There was however a bit of an uproar last year when the neighbouring council also brought in a booking system. Uproar as many people who used their tip, don’t stay within their borders but the tip was geographically closest
There was however a bit of an uproar last year when the neighbouring council also brought in a booking system. Uproar as many people who used their tip, don’t stay within their borders but the tip was geographically closest
Old Merc said:
The one in Reading is very good, massive place. Only available to Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham residents. Book a time slot online, take proof of address. Wave it all to the bloke at the barrier and in you go. No big queue, guys wonder around and help you with heavy stuff, in and out in no time.
That’s my local as well, and the booking works wonders. No longer having to queue to ages to get in on a weekend. Everything is under one roof which is idealGassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff