Village tip ‘safe to use’ despite asbestos discovery

The recycling and household waste site, on Normanton Lane, was closed in January so essential drainage work could be carried out but it will now reopen on Thursday.

The work was halted after traces of asbestos were discovered during initial investigations and samples have been sent for analysis, with results expected inside the next two months.

Meanwhile the site remains fully safe to reopen, say Leicestershire County Council, although it will need to temporarily close again at some stage for completion of the original works programme.

Residents have had to travel to Melton to use the town’s Lake Terrace tip while their local one has been closed.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for waste disposal, said: “It will be some time before the planned maintenance work can continue at Bottesford so we have decided to reopen the site in the intervening weeks for the convenience of local residents, who have been using our Melton site while this work was carried out.

“We would like to reassure visitors that the site is completely safe to use and remind them that they will need to book an appointment slot, as they do at our other recycling sites.”

Bottesford is one of 14 recycling and household waste sites in Leicestershire and is open between Thursday and Saturday from 9am until 5pm.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, vehicles are only allowed on waste sites with a pre-booked appointment.

Go to www.leicestershire.gov.uk/waste to book an appointment for the Bottesford tip from Thursday.