Booking system to be introduced at waste sites

A booking system will be introduced at rubbish tips in East Sussex during the next financial year after proposals were approved by a senior county councillor.

East Sussex County Council announced plans to mandate booking last year, in order to reduce queues, help save £50,000 a year and to reduce trade waste.

A petition against the introduction of a booking system, started by the Lewes Liberal Democrats, was signed by more than 2,250 people.

The council's lead member for transport and environment, Claire Dowling, has now signed off on the plans.

A council spokesperson said Ms Dowling "took the decision after considering a number of factors", including the projected annual savings and how such a system would stop people from outside the county from using the service.

"The booking system is expected to be introduced during the 2025/26 financial year," they added.

A public consultation carried out between October and December last year received almost 6,000 responses, of which 91% were negative.

This is the highest number of responses ever submitted to a consultation run by the communities, environment and transport department, according to an earlier report presented to the council.

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