Witney News - Dix Pit to re-open next Monday

Dix Pit to re-open next Monday

The Dix Pit household waste recycling centre at Stanton Harcourt will reopen on Monday 18 May but residents are being urged to hold their visit unless it is absolutely essential.

Long tailbacks are expected at the site run by Oxfordshire County Council. These are set to be exacerbated by reduced opening hours and the number of vehicles accessing the site being reduced by 50 per cent to allow for social distancing.

Government guidance says that trips to a recycling centre should only be made if 'essential' – that is if the waste cannot be stored safely without harm to health.

It adds: "It would be reasonable for residents to undertake a journey to a HWRC if the waste or recycling could not be stored safely at home or disposed of through other legitimate routes such as a dedicated collection.

"By this we mean that the waste/recycling could not be stored on their property without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household or harm to public health and amenity."

Cllr Norman MacRae, Cabinet Member for the Environment at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: "We know there has been considerable frustration with the site being closed but hopefully this decision will help ease the situation and help prevent fly-tipping.

"I would urge residents not to react too hastily though as we don’t want to see the site overwhelmed. If you can delay for a while longer, this would help everyone concerned."

Residents are also reminded that the full bulky waste service will be available again from Thursday 14 May.