People may soon have to book to use a York tip after it attracted dangerous and disruptive traffic levels at peak times.
The Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre, off James Street, has seen a significant increase in traffic in recent years.
It’s led to safety concerns for road users and pedestrians, and disruption to nearby businesses and council operations.
While the site can accommodate current total demand, peak-time queues are causing wider congestion problems on the city’s roads.
City of York Council’s place scrutiny committee will consider several short- to medium-term options aimed at improving traffic flow and ensuring safe, efficient access to recycling services
There are three options:
- Divert commercial visitors to Towthorpe tip – a council report says this would “would likely reduce demand, but not to a level where the congestion around Hazel Court and James Street is impacted”
- Restrict Hazel Court tip to residents only – this would use existing automatic numberplate recognition technology, but would require residents to register their numberplate with their address. Those without registered numberplates would be turned away at the tip, which “could slow down” access
- Implement a booking system – residents would book a half hour slot to visit Hazel Court.
The report recommends that the council considers trialling the online booking system, with technology used during the Covid restrictions.
If the trial’s a success, a proper booking system could be introduced.
Dave Atkinson, the council’s director of environmental and regulatory services, said: “We’re committed to finding a balanced solution that supports residents, businesses, and our environmental goals.
“This review is about exploring practical options to improve safety and access while maintaining high-quality recycling services.”
In the longer term, the council hopes to move the tip to a new site “that would better serve York’s growing population and facilitate new changes in national waste policy and legislation”.
The council hasn’t yet identified a site, however.
The place scrutiny committee will meet on Tuesday 23 September to discuss the options and provide recommendations.
A further report will then be taken to the Executive for approval in October.
