Month: September 2020
New winter opening hours for Household Recycling Centres
Household Waste and Recycling Centres in Herefordshire will operate new hours this winter.
From Thursday 1 October 2020, all sites will close at 4pm, except for Ledbury which remains unchanged.
During the winter months when there are fewer daylight hours, public use of the sites decreases, in part due to less garden waste being brought in, and traffic surveys confirm that there is least demand from 4pm onwards each day. The new hours will increase efficiency across our sites and lead to better management of demand, which has allowed us to already open the Ross-on-Wye centre for an additional day each week.
It is important that residents continue to book slots to visit a Household Recycling Centre where required. This can be done online or, for those unable to book online, by contacting the Herefordshire Council customer services team on 01432 260000, who will book a slot for you.
The household recycling centres are only open to Herefordshire residents, and the booking system is in place to ensure the safety of staff by controlling numbers of visitors and prevent queues at sites. Residents can book up to four slots every two weeks and will receive a pass before visiting. An address and vehicle registration number are needed to secure the booking.
Cllr Gemma Davies, Cabinet member for commissioning, procurement and assets, said:
“Thank you for all of your patience during the past few months in our recycling centres and the number of changes that have taken place. During the winter months, the number of people visiting our Household Recycling Centres naturally decreases as people have less waste to dispose of and tend to visit earlier in the day. Closing our centres a little bit earlier means we can operate more effectively across the county.
“We ask that people continue to book online or over the phone because the booking system is a vital way of avoiding congestion and ensuring our sites remain safe and comply with the necessary guidelines. Most importantly, please remember that anyone who is self-isolating or has Covid-19 symptoms must not visit a household recycling centre.”
To book online and for more information, please visit Herefordshire.gov.uk/recycling
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Elderly residents targeted by loft insulation scam
Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service is warning local elderly residents not to fall for a spray foam loft insulation scam that is currently targeting Herefordshire.
In recent days many residents have contacted the council to say they have been cold called on the telephone by a company falsely claiming to be backed by the council and government. The company makes false claims that fibre glass insulation causes damp and condensation in the loft and a surveyor needs to visit and inspect the property.
David Hough, Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service Manager, said:
“Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service has received intelligence to suggest that a rogue company has targeted hundreds of local people in the last week with the loft insulation scam. The telephone call is a ruse to send a commission-only salesman who will pressure and deceive consumers into paying for expensive and unnecessary spray foam loft insulation, costing up to £5000. Replacing fibre glass insulation with spray foam insulation offers no additional benefits.
“The council has a zero tolerance policy on rogue trading and our Trading Standards team will work tirelessly to crack down on anyone preying on vulnerable residents. The sale of spray foam loft insulation is connected to the sale of waterproof wall and roof coatings which are all common cold calling scams, targeted at retired home owners. We urge local residents to avoid becoming a rogue trader victim simply by not engaging with any cold callers, whether on the telephone or at the door.”
Residents who are interested in loft insulation and other energy efficiency measures can find out more by calling 0800 677 1432 or by visiting the Keep Herefordshire Warm website at www.keepherefordshirewarm.co.uk
Anyone concerned about the activity of a cold caller is urged to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or visit the Herefordshire Council website for more consumer advice www.herefordshire.gov.uk/scams