Kent residents may have to use an online booking system to access tips when they reopen – as fears mount their closure is leading to a surge in fly-tipping.

The potential move comes as councils seek to find ways to cope with a surge in demand at the county's 21 tips.

KMTV reports on the story

Medway Council and Kent County Council are working together to formulate the proposal, which was revealed to the public during KCC's second virtual cabinet meeting this morning.

KCC's cabinet member for environment, Cllr Susan Carey (Con) said earlier today: "We are working with Medway Council on a booking system to manage demand."

More details on the proposed booking system have yet to be released by the KCC administration, who declined to comment further when questioned after the cabinet session.

KCC's main opposition leader, Cllr Rob Bird (Lib Dem), who supported the proposal, said: "It would avoid an avalanche of people turning up at the same time."

The plan comes as pressure on Kent's local authorities to reopen their centres mounts amid fears over sharp increases to flytipping. Although KCC says there is a "mixed picture" over these incidents.

A total of 13 Kent MPs have jointly called on KCC leader Roger Gough (Con) to formally request they reopen next month. They sent a letter to his office earlier today.

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke, who has led the fight to reopen them, said: "It’s right that we take all necessary steps to battle the virus and keep safe.

“But the government has been clear there are good reasons to have access to proper waste disposal including at recycling centres, and that they can be managed within social distancing requirements."

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch said: "There has been a noticeable increase in flytipping across my constituency, which is added to wherever it is not being dealt with quickly enough."

She added: "We all fully appreciate the concerns regarding the safety of workers on site but these can be managed with some proper controls in place.”

In the North West, Wigan Council has reopened its recycling centre sites but other local authorities have been more cautious in their approach.

KCC's cabinet member for environment said: "Kent is far from alone in making this decision to keep household waste recycling centres closed.

"On the contrary it is the stance of the overwhelming majority of upper tier authorities across the country."

Government guidance - published on April 7 - gave councils powers to keep their tip services running where "effective social distancing" can be maintained.

But, Cllr Carey said Whitehall's guidance was "silent" on how this would be achieved in practice. She added that it fails to square with advice around "essential journeys" where tip visits are discouraged.

There was a surge in use across KCC's 18 sites last month, rising from 10,800 daily visits to around 14,400 by March 23.

She said: "Last week I said we would reopen household waste recycling centres when it is safe to do so.

"This will require sufficient staffing and a system to ensure that social distancing is effective for both users of the site and staff."

Other KCC members, from across the political spectrum, have called for a commitment to reopen centres soon, alongside the lobbying Kent MPs.

Among them is Folkestone and Hythe Cllr Rory Love (Con) who tweeted: "We shouldn't have to wait until every council agrees to reopen theirs.

"I'm with the Government on this. These are a key public service, they're allowed to open and they should re-open. Good to hear steps are now underway."

Margate Cllr Barry Lewis (Lab) added: "As usual KCC talk the good talk, but actions speak louder than words. We need action today, not more plans."

Last week, KCC's leader said: "We recognise the current situation can't go on indefinitely and are looking at ways of reopening in the short team and working out plans for what is going to be the best way to do it."

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