COUNCIL chiefs say appointment only slots at the tip have proved a huge success and more than 20,000 people have visited to offload their rubbish since the facility re-opened as coronavirus lockdown measures eased.

The borough's Household Waste Recycling Centre in Stourbridge re-opened at the start of May - but only to people with pre-booked appointments.

To help keep people safe and ensure social distancing the booking system remains in place but council bosses say an increasing number of people have been turning up at the site without a confirmed pre-booked slot.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley's cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said: "In order to keep people safe we do need to keep strict social distancing measures in place, which is why we are continuing with the pre-booking system.

"It has been very popular, with approximately 21,000 visits to the tip since it reopened. There has been an estimated 2,220 tonnes of waste deposited at the site and roughly 1,600 tonnes recycled.

"I would remind people not to turn up to the site without booking first as they will be turned away."

She said anyone who has booked a slot which they can no longer attend should cancel the slot via Dudley Council Plus to allow other residents the opportunity to use the site and she added: "We are also working to put a system in place to allow people to cancel online, which I hope will be available in the next few weeks.

"I would like to thank all our residents for continuing to follow government guidelines in the continued fight against coronavirus."

Residents can reserve a slot, subject to demand, and this now includes residents with vans, trailers and pickups who already have a permit.

The number of visits per hour is limited to allow people to use the site safely. Households and existing permit holders will be limited to one visit per week (subject to availability) to maximise the number of residents that can benefit from the site being open.

Permit holders should take their permit with them and hold it up against a closed window for inspection. Hired vans should take their hired agreements with them and also hold these up against a closed window for inspection.

Rules allow for just one person per vehicle unless two people are needed to unload. No children or pets are allowed.

Due to social distancing, no assistance for unloading can be provided, and users are asked to sort their waste before arrival. The re-use shop remains closed and parking is limited to one side.

Appointments can be booked online at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling/household-waste-recycling-centre/ or by calling Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345.