Down in the dumps as bridge gets vital repairs

BEVERLEY householders are to be cut off from the town's only recycling tip for three weeks.

Weel Bridge in Grovehill Road sees about 2,500 vehicles-a-week heading to the dump.

East Riding Council says repairs are needed because of erosion, rather than the weight of traffic crossing the 60-year-old bridge.

The main part of the structure is made of aluminium and a recent inspection found some corrosion where it meets the steel counterweight. To carry out the work, the bridge will be raised to the lifted position while a section is replaced.

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The bridge will be closed from September 10 to September 30. Residents are being advised to go through Tickton and down Weel Road to avoid the closure.

The bridge work will highlight the problem of the tip being in such an inaccessible location. East Riding Council admits it is on the lookout for a better site.

Councillor Kerri Harold, of Beverley's Minster Ward, said: "Nobody could dispute the fact the site is not in the best of places.

"It's not easy to get to from Beverley. You can only go one way on the bridge and visibility isn't good.

"But it's the only way to get to the site. If anyone can avoid using the recycling site for the three weeks the bridge is closed I would advise them to do that.

"The bridge does need maintaining, that's a safety issue. It does get quite a lot of traffic and the majority of that traffic is going to use the tip."

East Riding Council says the site at Weel is able to keep pace with increased demand from Beverley but admitted its location is not ideal.

A spokesman said: "The household waste recycling site at Weel is highly successful. July's recycling rate at the site was 85 per cent. Beverley residents are keen recyclers and their enthusiasm means that the Weel recycling site is just able to meet their requirements.

"We have identified several new sites over the years but they have proved unsuitable for various reasons, including local opposition.

"We are always on the lookout for a suitable local site and would welcome suggestions."

Ten years ago East Riding councillors Nev Holgate and Jim Whitfield were leading a fight to have the tip closed and a new site found.

At the time it was suggested one location might be in Annie Reed Road, Beverley. In the end, the idea came to nothing.

More recently, residents in Weel have upped their campaign to have the site closed.

They say what should be a quiet single-track road alongside the riverbank to their homes is actually clogged with cars laden with rubbish.

There are passing places but the road is recognised as being hazardous.

Mrs Harold said: "That little track through Weel, you get drivers hurtling past. We've seen a couple of accidents over the years but they've never been major because people coming over the bridge are always going slowly."

With East Riding Council striving to meet Government recycling targets, the Weel site has become progressively busier. In many ways it is a success story in that it means less waste going into landfill.

Mrs Harold said: "The tip is really well managed, there are always people there to help you. But it's not easy to get to. If we had a more suitable site more easily accessible that would be the preferred option."

East Riding Council has rules about what can be taken to its recycling sites and what vehicles can be used. Visit www2.east riding.gov.uk/environment/bins-rubbish-recycling/tips- and-recycling-sites for more information.