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Thousands of visits made to pop-up rubbish sites in Coventry

BBC Pop-up waste siteBBC
Cars have been queuing to drop off waste at the temporary sites

Thousands of bags of rubbish have been left at temporary drop-off sites ahead of a bin lorry drivers strike.

Coventry City Council said more than 3,000 cars had been driven to the four sites which would be open seven days a week during the industrial action.

Members of the Unite union are in dispute with the council over pay and new Christmas working arrangements.

Strikes are due to take place on 5 and 6 January and throughout the week of 11 January.

Waste disposal vehicle
Thousands of visits have already been made to the sites, the council said

The four drop-off points opened on Wednesday at Cheylesmore car park, War Memorial Park, Hearsall Common and Sowe Common car park.

They will operate between 08:00 and 16:30 GMT every day, excluding bank holidays.

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Coventry City Council said on 23 December it was "disappointed" no agreement could be reached and it had made a number of "generous offers" to the union.

The union said despite the drivers' skills being in huge demand, they had seen wage cuts in real terms in recent years due to public sector pay rises being capped at 1%.

Unite is also opposed to the introduction of new collection shifts over Christmas week.

Pop-up waste site
The four sites will operate between 08:00 and 16:30 GMT every day, excluding bank holidays

The council said there was no need to book a visit to the drop-off sites and people would be guided in and asked to leave their waste in a holding area.

Talks between the council and Unite are due to start again on 4 January.

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