Tip queues spark complaints from local businesses

Lengthy queues for a household waste recycling centre are causing chaos, according to neighbouring businesses.

Two firms said their customers were being put off by congestion at peak times outside the Lincoln Waste and Recycling Centre, in Great Northern Terrace.

Matthew Benson, who owns JVS garage in nearby George Street, said: "Looking at our bookings, the number that we take on tip days is actually significantly less than when the tip is shut."

Lincolnshire County Council, which runs the centre, has blamed good weather for increased demand and said it was looking at ways to minimise disruption.

Benson said he was also worried about safety as motorists tried to get past the queues.

"People go and drive on the wrong side of the road. There's a blind bend there as well.

"There are huge articulated lorries that come and go.

"I think it's only a matter of time before there's a serious accident."

Over the road from Benson's garage, Rob Wilkins runs a gym called CR Fitness.

"We have customers that turn around because they don't want to sit in traffic for 30 minutes," he said.

"They come to the back of the queue and they turn around, so it's a loss of business."

Wilkins said people posted on the gym's WhatsApp group when there were big queues and this had prompted customers to cancel fitness classes.

He estimated the loss to his business was in the "high hundreds" of pounds each month.

He argued that the council should look at building a second tip in the longer term.

Until then he said he would favour a booking system and longer opening hours.

On Friday, council employees in hi-vis jackets could be seen directing traffic in order to help motorists not waiting for the tip to bypass the queues.

The spokesperson for the authority said the recycling centre could see more than 900 vehicles a day during peak periods and they understood that "this exceptional demand can have an impact on visitors and local businesses".

Officials would continue to monitor demand and explore ways to speed up the process.

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