Rutland County Council has increased capacity for visitors to its two Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC) while temporary restrictions and advance bookings remain in place at both sites.

Due to the continuing impact of COVID-19 and the Government's decision to extend national restrictions until 19 July, the Council will continue to provide a bookings-only service at its HWRCs beyond Monday 21 June.

These arrangements are in place to ensure that sites can operate as smoothly and safely as possible – protecting visitors and staff, while providing a seven-day-a-week HWRC service across the two sites at Cottesmore and North Luffenham.

Lighter evenings and seasonal changes to HWRC operating hours mean that both Centres are now open for longer. Cottesmore HWRC is open four days a week: Friday to Monday, 10am to 6pm (closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). North Luffenham HWRC is open six days a week: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm (closed on Mondays).

Rutland residents will not be able to use either site unless they have booked in advance. From this week, the number of pre-booked time slots available each hour has increased as follows:

Six cars at North Luffenham every 15 minutes (previously six cars were allowed every 20 minutes). That now allows for 24 cars per hour, apart from over lunchtime when the site closes for 45 minutes, totalling 174 per day.

At Cottesmore, three cars every 15 minutes (previously three cars were allowed every 20 minutes). That is now increased to 12 cars per hour, apart from over lunchtime when the site closes for 45 minutes, totalling 85 per day.

There are no changes to the current arrangements for trailers, which are permitted at North Luffenham but cannot yet be brought to Cottesmore. This decision continues to be kept under review.

Councillor Lucy Stephenson, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services at Rutland County Council, said: "I know just how much people value our recycling centre services. Unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic and recent delay to the full easing of lockdown measures, we are still unable to return to a full, unrestricted service across our HWRC sites.

"We have been clear that we will only be able to do this once the Government has removed all legal limits on social contact, which we now expect on 19 July. The continuing need for an advance booking system to manage traffic at both sites will be reviewed after this date, with the intention of removing the need to book as soon as it's safe.

"In the meantime, we'd like to thank people for their understanding and patience, and for continuing to following the COVID-safe measures that remain in place at Rutland's HWRCs."

To book a 15-minute time slot at either site, visit: www.rutland.gov.uk/hwrcbooking. Anyone who is unable to book online because they do not have access to the internet can book by calling 01572 722 577.

For more information about Household Waste and Recycling Centre services in Rutland, please visit: www.rutland.gov.uk/recycling.