CAMPAIGNERS gathered at Alresford tip on Monday to protest against Hampshire County Council’s failure to remove the pre-booking system for visits.

The system, introduced after the first lockdown, depends on residents booking with a car - limiting access, say campaigners.

It excludes same-day bookings and pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooter users. More than 200 local people have signed a petition to get the tips fully open.

Local residents Yvette Riley, the Lib Dem candidate in the city council election, and Sam Dalling from New Leaf Alresford have been raising this issue over recent months: “We feel that it doesn’t make sense that everyone can now pop into a non-essential shop or pub, but not the tip, especially given things are slowly returning to normal,” said Ms Riley.

“You can be indoors having your nails done but accessing the tip in the open air is still restricted. The county council are still ignoring residents’ wishes to open up their sites."

“It's not right that only car users can access the tip,” said Sam Dalling. “HCC promised to sort this out in December but have failed to deliver their promised pilot. With elections coming up in May, we fear further delay in the restoration of normal service”.

A Freedom of Information Act request made by Yvette and Sam showed that the number of people using the Alresford tip has halved since the introduction of the booking system - this during a period when many were busy clearing out their homes and gardens.

The activists are also calling on HCC to reveal how much recycling at the Alresford tip has fallen as a result over the same period.

Ms Riley said: “I understand that everyone who works at, and visits, the tips must be kept safe, but as drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, we face far greater risks just venturing out on our road network. I fail to see why HCC are so out of step with their timid approach. Surely it can’t be beyond the wit of man to make tips safe for all”.

She added: “I suggest an HCC Officer has a word with Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Council who lifted all restrictions to their tips before Christmas and have returned to on the day use for cars, pedestrians and cyclists. We plan to keep campaigning on this issue until HCC right this wrong”.

Notes: An FOI request made in March 2021 revealed that the number of vehicles attending Alresford tip fell from 28K for the period July 2019 to February 2020 inclusive to 14K for the period July 2020 to February 2021 inclusive. The FOI also revealed that 15% of all slots at the tip went unused from July 2020 to February 2021 inclusive.

(I have added a photograph of Jackie Porter, Yvette Riley and Sam Dalling outside Alresford tip taken in November. I will supply a photo of the protest on Monday 19th April after the protest has taken place.)