It has probably not escaped the notice of many residents that a new booking system is now in place at our local amenity site (recycling centre). This means that residents must book up before they roll up with their cargo of once-loved items, garden waste and anything left over from DIYing around the home. No booking, no dumping!

So what are our early observations of the success or otherwise of the new procedures? First, it cost a decent amount of money to set it all up - around £75,000. The new system requires Essex County Council operatives to monitor arrivals at the site. For this they have had to erect a hut and man it. Basically, that means either paying somebody a wage for doing something that wasn't done previously or reducing the operatives elsewhere on site.

Second, it actually takes longer to get onto the site than it used to. Checking bookings and all the paperwork you need to bring with you all takes time. If anything is not right that takes more time - eg. you turn up in the wrong car. We don't remember very many occasions when we ever had to queue for very long, or at all, to get onto the SWF site.

Third, for the punter this is another example of unneccessary bureaucracy. Not only does it take the time and effort to get the booking done, but it also requires the hardware to do it. You must also have the gap in your own busy schedule to take a different time slot, in the unlikely event that the slot you thought you were going to get is already booked out.

Not a great success then. To paraphrase one of our Facebook commenters: you wonder what is going to ride on the back of this - charging for using the amenity site? Well it's a Conservative Essex County Council service so perhaps something we should expect!

To book a slot at our civic amenity site you can use this link: SWF Recycling Centre Booking.