NO TIPS OPEN THIS WEEKEND 'IN INTERESTS OF SAFETY TO COUNCIL WORKERS AND PUBLIC ALIKE'

CIVIC tips serving Atherstone and the rest of North Warwickshire will be staying firmly locked in the interests of safety to council workers and the public, it was revealed tonight.

An eleventh-hour announcement means household waste and recycling centres are not open this weekend despite ministers writing to Warwickshire County Council telling the authority to get them operational again.

Atherstone's twin council leader told Nub News on Wednesday he would be "having a conversation" with county colleagues in a bid to see facilities reopened as soon as was practical and safe.

The town's two closest household waste recycling centres at Lower House Farm, Dordon and Judkins on Tuttle Hill, Nuneaton, have been closed since March 24 following Government restrictions due to coronavirus.

Councillor David Wright's plea followed Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick calling on to local authorities across the UK to open the gates on waste collection sites.

The Local Government Association has said: "The Government has now indicated that they want councils to re-open their centres and local authorities have already begun preparations to do just that in the coming weeks.

"This will not be without its challenges – requiring social distancing measures, traffic management and co-ordination across the country.

"Most importantly, there needs to be clear guidance to both the police and the public as to what constitutes an essential journey to a household waste recycling centre during lockdown."

But the county council told Nub News this evening the publicity signalling a reopening plan did not mean an immediate resumption of service.

A spokesman said: "Please note our household waste and recycling are NOT open this weekend.

"We will let you know as soon as this changes.

"We've been made aware that some people may think we are open this weekend – but to confirm, we are not.

"The measures remain in place to keep both our staff and members of the public safe.

The 'thanks' from households in the town and surrounding villages for the efforts of North Warwickshire's bin men and women has been self-evident with a "wall of gratitude" covering the Atherstone-based local authority's Waste Services' offices.

A depleted refuse workforce has been keeping main and recycling collections going as "best they can" after the borough council had to suspend the green bin service until early May, blaming the decision on "many key staff" being unable to work through having to self-isolate and changes to working practices.

The good news, and seen by many as a fightback against Covid-19, means the green bin collection service is being restored – from this coming Monday.