NORTHWICH'S tip will reopen on Tuesday, May 12, with extended opening hours to meet demand.

The household waste recycling centre will be open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has decided against restricting access based on prior appointment or specific number plates, which next-door Cheshire East Council is using from next week.

Cllr Karen Shore, CWAC's deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, said: "I’m sure many residents will welcome the news that some of our HWRC facilities are now able to reopen.

"Please can we ask people to consider how essential their trip is before setting off, and only visit if absolutely necessary.

"The sites will be open seven days a week and if everyone rushes there on the first few days it could cause very large queues.

"Restrictions and traffic management will be in place when the sites reopen and it’s likely that queues will be much longer than usual."

All council tips were closed as a result of the coronavirus, but the Government has now allowed travel to a household waste recycling centre if storing waste at home is a risk to health and safety.

Only cars will be allowed access to the sites once they reopen – no pedestrians, vans, trailers or commercial vehicles are permitted.

The site will be accept a smaller number of vehicles than usual at any one time, meaning fewer visitors to boost safety in the pandemic.

Opening times will be subject to review and the arrangements will be considered after two weeks.

Cllr Shore added: "Please bear with us if there are delays and follow any instructions given by our staff or signage, so we can ensure everyone’s safety.

"Safety has been and remains a key priority in the decision to re-open and operate the centres.

“I would like to thank residents for their patience whilst our household waste recycling centres have been closed.”

Visitors will need to follow strict two-metre social distancing from staff and other site users.

Staff cannot help unload due to social distancing, so visitors must be able to safely unload their own vehicles and place items in skips.

The council is also planning for the re-establishment of green waste collection, after it was paused to enable staff and vehicles to be redeployed to enable other refuse collections to be sustained safety.

More information will follow once a timetable for re-introduction can be safely established.