Online tip booking trial to continue despite criticism

A local authority has decided to continue trialling an online tip booking system, despite it having been criticised as "rubbish" by some residents.

Surrey County Council rejected calls to scrap the scheme being piloted at the Camberley and Lyne recycling centres after a nearly 700-strong petition was launched.

The three-month trial, which began on 11 August and runs until 10 November, requires people to go online and book a 15-minute slot before visiting the two sites.

Despite being slated as creating "unnecessary red tape," Councillor Tim Oliver said it "made sense to see it through" until the end.

Other critics of the tip trial accused it of penalising shift workers and families with unpredictable schedules, adding that it even risks deterring people from recycling altogether.

Labour Councillor Robert King, who organised the petition, said some residents had found the system to be a "complete farce" due to lack of available slots and called for an immediate return to the former "turn up and tip" approach.

However, Councillor Natalie Bramhall, cabinet member for property, infrastructure and waste, insisted it had been effective in cutting congestion and improving customer experience.

"It's not just about assessing the impact on congestion, it's also about improving the service for the future," she said.

Council figures show the two sites received 19,582 visits between August and September, with 83% having pre-booked, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Of those surveyed, 75% found the system easy to use while 77% said the 15-minute slots were sufficient, according to the council.

Mr Oliver added that once the trial ended on 10 November there would be a return to a non-booking system before evaluating all the feedback and deciding what happens next.

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