Antrim and Newtownabbey: new booking system for vans at recycling centres to reduce ‘significant congestion’

The new arrangement will be implemented in a bid to reduce “significant congestion”.

A report presented behind closed doors to last month’s meeting of council’s Operations Committee, said 680,000 users attend the borough’s five household recycling centres annually bringing almost half of waste disposed of locally.

The busiest household recycling centre is at O’Neill Road, Glengormley, where 217,604 vehicles arrive annually followed by Newpark, Antrim with 178,272 vehicles; Bruslee, Newtownabbey, 152,474; Crumlin, 83,154 and Craigmore, Antrim, 47,884. The most waste was brought to Newpark.

The report noted: “While council was keen to keep the recycling centres accessible to all residents, recent site surveys had indicated high levels of van usage which affects the service provided to the other site users.”

It also said: “The high number of van users at council’s recycling centres was affecting the operation of the facilities leading to significant congestion.”

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Craigmore had the highest percentage of van usage, 35 per cent. Of 80 vehicles, 28 were vans; Bruslee, 26 per cent, of 244 vehicles, 63 vans; Newpark, 25 per cent, of 314 vehicles, 77 vans; O’Neill Road, 22 per cent, of 712 vehicles, 159 vans and Crumlin, 16 per cent, of 183 vehicles, 29 vans.

The report stated: “As van users frequently spend much longer on site due to the amount of waste they are carrying, especially in medium to large vehicles, this was resulting in significant traffic congestion where other users were unable to find vacant parking bays.

“Traffic congestion reduced the efficiency and effectiveness of the recycling centres and can increase health and safety risks on-site.” It was noted that Ards and North Down Borough Council introduced a van permit system last September.

It is proposed that Bruslee which has 16 parking bays would have five slots for van drivers to book every 15 minutes; Craigmore, three; Crumlin, three; O’Neill Road, four and Newpark, four. Staff on site will only allow access for vans that have been pre- booked.

Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster proposed accepting the recommendation that the booking system for medium to large vans be trialled, seconded by Glengormley DUP Alderman Paula Bradley.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter