‘Dump is not convenient’

CONCERN has been expressed about reductions to the opening hours of the local recycling centre.

One Lurgan resident was dismayed after he was turned away from the New Line Recycling Centre on the Tandragee Road at 3.45pm on a Saturday afternoon.

He commented: “3.45 on a Saturday afternoon is a very strange time to be closed. For a lot of people who are at work, Saturday is the only chance they get to visit the dump.”

The ‘MAIL’ spoke to another ratepayer who said he noticed the opening hours of the recycling centre seemed to be getting shorter.

He said: “There’s nights they’re closed up before six which is of no benefit to people who are working all day.

“They complain about people fly tipping and encourage recycling, yet expect ratepayers to visit at the council’s convenience rather than the other way round.

“You’d think with it being summer the opening hours would be extended.”

As of April this year the recycling centre at New Line reduced its opening hours to 9am to 6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am to 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. The last car will be allowed in 15 minutes before closing each day.

A council spokesperson said: “Craigavon Borough Council carried out a service review on the two amenity sites in the borough which highlighted that by revising the opening hours of each centre efficiency savings and a more effective service to the ratepayer could be provided.

“The new opening hours came into effect on Monday, April 2 and will provide an estimated saving to the ratepayer of £14,000 a year.

People were not using either of the amenity sites early in the morning and the opening time was changed to 9am to reflect this. Although both centres opened daily later in the evening during the summer, most people were again not frequently using them.

The opening times were adjusted so that the late nights would alternate between both centres therefore the Borough would still have one amenity site service available for use four nights out of five. Revising the opening times to include two late nights at each centre instead of five is also more cost effective.

The new opening hours which came into effect on 2nd April are as follows:

Fairgreen Amenity Site, Portadown

Summer: (1 April – 30 September) Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm with late night opening to 8pm on Monday and Wednesday nights only. Saturday 9am to 4pm

Winter: (1 October – 31 March) Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm

Last car in 15 minutes before closing each day

Newline Amenity Site, Lurgan

Summer: (1 April – 30 September) Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm with late night opening to 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights only. Saturday 9am to 4pm

Winter: (1 October – 31 March) Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm

Last car in 15 minutes before closing each day.