Concerns have been raised about the new online booking system for waste recycling centres and feels it will encourage fly-tipping.

One Carlisle resident believes the new measure that is going to be introduced next week by Cumbria County Council will increase people in the city to fly-tip and has already seen evidence of it.

The resident, who doesn’t want to be named, said: “I don’t agree with it. You’re going to have to book online and you’re only going to be allowed to go once a week.

“We’ve been on lockdown and everyone has accumulated rubbish and because they have stopped all the trailers going in, which is just a one-off, and they are not to have the staff help you anymore, people are going to start going more often with a car load.

“People are going to start to fly-tip and I just feel that once a week is not adequate if you want to get rid of your rubbish.”

Following the reopening of the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Rome Street, Carlisle a decision has been made by Cumbria County Council to introduce a booking system from Tuesday, July 7 to help prevent the dangerous build-up of traffic in the area.

Anyone wishing to visit the Rome Street HWRC needs to visit cumbria.gov.uk/wastebookings or call 0300 003 1118 to pre-book a half hourly slot.

The site is open between 8am and 6pm, seven days a week, meaning there are plenty of times a day available to chose from.

Advance bookings are already being taken.

To ensure the safety of staff and members of the public only those with an appointment will be able to use use this particular site for the time being.

The booking system will be reviewed and removed once the site is able to function without being overwhelmed by the number of visitors while still maintaining safe social distancing.

To speed up access to the site, visitors are asked to display the booking references on piece of A4 paper in their windscreen.

The resident added: “I believe we need another tip in Carlisle on the north side of the city because they have built all these house all the way round the city and we only have one tip that you now have to book online.

“A lot of old people that are retired don’t want to bother with booking online. It would make more sense to have another tip.

“My argument is that you shouldn’t be restricted to once a week and you shouldn’t have to book online.”

A Cumbria County Council spokesman said: “A key factor of the booking system is that it allows access for the same (maximum) number of vehicles that are permitted on to the site since reopening on May 12 under social distancing restrictions.

“The purpose of the booking system is to reduce the congestion and waiting time of people entering the site.

“Keeping staff and the public safe is our absolute priority and the new booking system will ensure this is maintained and also make the roads around the HWRC less congested and help to minimise the disruption for our local residents.

“It’s quick and easy to book a slot using the online system and visitors will be able to choose from one of 20 slots every half an hour between 8am and 6pm.

“Please do not fly tip – it is illegal and it uses time and resources that could be supporting the response to Covid-19 in better ways.

“Fly-tipping includes leaving items outside charity shops, recycling bring sites, or outside the boundary of your property. Anyone caught fly tipping will be prosecuted.”