Period of grace ends for Wirral van drivers
A one month grace period for van drivers turning up at Wirral Household Waste Recycling Centres ends on Sunday November 1st.
On October 1st local waste officers implemented a new Permit Scheme which means those driving vans need a paper permit to get into the Borough’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
There was a one month grace period in place for those that turned up at site but hadn’t heard about the scheme which allowed them access, but,from Sunday 1 November, that is over .
If van drivers or cars with large trailers try to access the Recycling Centres and they don’t have a Permit then they will be turned away.
The scheme is designed to end abuse by commercial traders who avoid paying Landfill Tax by disposing their waste at HWRCs – at Wirral Council tax payers’ expense.
The three Wirral Recycling Centres are West Kirby, Bidston and Clatterbridge. Those applying for permits only need to supply their name, address and vehicle details to help weed out commercial and trade operators.
Wirral residents using such vehicles at any of these three HWRCs should ring 0151 236 0305 or log onto www.merseysidewda.gov.uk before their next visit. They will then be sent a permit which they can use to get on site.
Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority Director Carl Beer said: “We’re happy with how the first month has gone and our site workers have seen a noticeable dip in the number of vans coming onto site.”
It is hoped the scheme will also reduce congestion at the three centres and improve safety by reducing movement of large vehicles.
Householders visiting in ordinary saloon or estate cars/people carriers will not need permits unless they have blanked out windows or permanently removed rear seats. Pick-up trucks will be classed as vans and will need permits.
MWDA will closely monitor this phase of the scheme before deciding whether to roll it out across the rest of Merseyside.
