RESIDENTS fed up of queuing to get into one of Wiltshire’s recycling centres can now go in an hour before its official opening hour as a new trial is being piloted by the council.

With visitor numbers soaring in the summer months resulting in severe queues, Wiltshire Council has confirmed that 10 household recycling centres (HRC) now have the discretion to open their doors at 9am if they anticipate a high turnout.

However the news hasn’t been welcomed by all including Peter Collins, of Chilmark Road, Trowbridge who believes that residents should have been made aware of the opening hour change before now.

“No one knows when they open early because it hasn’t been told to residents,” the 81-year-old said.

“I know the council have to save money and all the recycling centres are closed two days a week but there are more houses in Trowbridge now and they are still building.

“The centre should know how much stuff is going through there and how busy it gets on different days.

“I think what they should do for a while is to open an extra day a week to see if it makes any difference. I’m in no doubt it would take the pressure off because a lot of people can’t make it until the weekend.”

The reduced opening hours came into force last year to help the council save money and the HRCs are run by contractors Hills Waste Solutions.

But after numerous complaints about growing queues and a limited service, Wiltshire Council hope this trial alleviates those concerns especially now demand has increased.

A council spokesman added: “The opening hours were sufficient over the winter to cope with the number of visitors. However since Easter there have been queues at many of our sites before 10am and we’re doing this trial to see if it will help us manage the queues at the site.

“We have agreed with Hills they can open those HRCs an hour earlier on a trial basis during the summer months. All sites will still close at 4pm.”

Hills did not wish to add to Wiltshire Council’s comments.

The council recently announced more changes to the way HRC’s are run, as residents who take rubbish in a van or trailer will soon have to show a permit which is only valid for 12 trips a year.