Special arrangements will be in place to control vehicle access to Chelson Meadow household waste recycling centre when it re-opens on Wednesday 13 May.
The site will be working at around half its normal capacity and the number of cars allowed in will be significantly reduced. People are strongly advised to avoid unnecessary visits and if they do go they are warned to expect long waiting times.
A queuing system will be in place to ensure everyone’s safety and help keep traffic moving along Laira Bridge and Billacombe Road. This will be strictly controlled to maintain access for local residents and businesses, as well as Council waste trucks needing to get in and out.
All cars will access The Ride from the outbound side of Laira Bridge, using a dedicated queuing lane. There will be no right-turn into The Ride, except for refuse vehicles, commercial waste operators and residents and businesses of The Ride.
Cars heading towards the site from Billacombe Road will need to continue along the inbound side of Laira Bridge, take the left slip towards Faraday Mill and then head back towards Laira Bridge via Faraday Road and Finnigan Road.
The traffic management plan, agreed with Devon and Cornwall Police, will include ‘keep clear’ areas and stop/go controls along The Ride, as well as vehicle ‘stacking’ similar to that used for the Torpoint Ferry. Please note there are no public toilets available outside or within the site.
Visitors are asked to stay in their cars while queuing to maintain social distancing and to not get out on site until they need to. Anyone who doesn’t comply with the social distancing guidance in place will be asked to leave. No-one should visit if they are unwell.
If the queue is full, drivers will be turned away and asked to try later. A maximum of two adults will be allowed per car – strictly no children. No vans or trailers will be allowed (even if you are a permit holder) and there will be no pedestrian access to the site. Staff will not be able to help with unloading.
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene said: “We know that people will be keen to get rid of their waste but we strongly urge people not to visit the site unless it’s absolutely essential.
“The official Government guidance makes it clear that if you can continue to store your waste safely at home then you should. We would ask everybody to carefully consider whether they desperately need to use the site at this time.
“If you do visit, be prepared for much longer waiting times than usual – and to be turned away if the queue is full. We have to ensure safe access for everyone and we cannot allow the congestion we saw on surrounding roads before the site closed.
“Avoid the first few days if possible as they are likely to be extremely busy. The centre will be open every day from 8am to 6pm and the more that people stagger their journeys the easier it will be for us to manage demand.”
The centre will only be accepting garden waste (not soil), electrical equipment and bagged household waste (as you would normally put in your brown bin). The following items will not be taken:
- Antifreeze, asbestos or chemicals
- Batteries (car or household)
- Fluorescent tubes or low energy lamps
- Gas bottles
- Hazardous waste
- Plasterboard
- Paint
- Oil (cooking or engine)
- Soil or hardcore
As always, the centre will only be open to Plymouth residents and visitors should display proof of address, such as a council tax, gas or electricity bill, in their windscreen.
Weston Mill recycling centre remains closed until further notice.