Hampshire County Council have confirmed Andover’s Scott Close site, along with the other 23 dumps across the county will remain open during the UK’s second lockdown which starts Thursday.
Tips were forced to close in March during the first lockdown causing major issues for Andover’s residents. Once they reopened in May, chaos erupted on roads surrounding the sites with lengthy queues as residents descended. In response to this booking systems were put in place.
Hampshire residents must register their vehicles for free and book an appointment to visit an HWRC in Hampshire or face being turned away.
In line with the Government’s announcement that all Non-essential shops should close, reuse sales areas will also be closed from Thursday 5th November until further notice.
Cllr Rob Humby, HCC’s executive member for economy, transport and environment said: “I’m really pleased we’ve got absolute clarity from the Government and for this lockdown, the national guidance defines waste services as essential.
“It’s also good news that the Government has said that construction is not expected to close operations down.
“We’ve put in place a booking system at the HWRCs which has been operating well for some time now, and social distancing measures to ensure each of our sites is able to operate in a COVID safe way, so I am confident we will be able to continue offering this service for Hampshire residents as the country enters into the next lockdown period.”
You can book a slot to a HWRC in Hampshire up to seven days in advance, by visiting the HCC website or phoning 02380 179949 between Monday and Friday 9am- 5.30pm
Guidance on visiting a Hampshire Household Waste Recycling Centre:
◾There is no need to bring confirmation of the booking to the site, the site will have information on confirmed bookings;
◾Site staff will check registration plates upon arrival – people will need to arrive in the vehicle specified in the booking;
◾Anyone turning up without a confirmed booking will not be allowed entry to the site;
◾People wishing to cancel or amend a booking can do so via the link received on the confirmation email. This link enables residents to either cancel a booking or reschedule it to another available date and time.
◾As per government guidelines, residents in the specified vulnerable category (those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, people over 70 and pregnant women) are strongly advised not to visit a site;
◾Specific parking arrangements are in place with site staff guiding vehicles, from a safe distance, into spaces
◾As far as possible, only one person per household should leave their vehicle during their visit to the HWRC.
◾Due to social distancing measures, site staff will be unable to provide any assistance with unloading material or carrying material. ◾Residents are asked to bring only the amount of waste they can comfortably carry and empty into containers
◾Everyone must observe social distancing and keep at least a two-metre distance from others at all times.
◾Most waste materials will be accepted.
◾Reuse sales areas will unfortunately have to be closed, in line with Government restrictions on non-essential shops. Where possible, please continue to store items of furniture which could be reused, donate to local furniture charities, or use online platforms (e.g. Freegle / Facebay / Gumtree). Please see the Smart Living website for more information on furniture reuse.
