Traffic chaos forces one of of Falkirk's re-opened recycling centres to close after just two hours

The recycling centres at Kinneil Kerse, Grangemouth Road near Bo’ness and Roughmute, Bogton Road, opened at 8am this morning, but Roughmute was soon closed by police at 10am as traffic began to built up on roads approaching the site.

Falkirk Council confirmed both sites are now open again but advised residents to avoid queues and maybe try later in the week.

A council spokesman said: “Police Scotland did ask we close Roughmute recycling centre for a short time this morning for traffic management purposes. We would still urge anyone to plan ahead to avoid the inevitable queues, look online at the traffic maps www.falkirk.gov.uk/recyclingcentres and consider waiting a few days until making their journey.”

The problems were so bad Falkirk East SNP MSP Angus MacDonald has actually slammed SNP controlled Falkirk Council as a “shambles” for what he called its “inept handling of the re-opening” of Falkirk’s recycling centres.

He has since praised the council’s efforts to get Roughmute re-open again.

Mr MacDonald said: “Following the earlier reports of the closure of Roughmute recycling centre just after 10am this morning I am delighted to receive updates the centre is now up and running again and receiving waste.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the teams at both centres for their prompt action in challenging circumstances and Police Scotland for their assistance.

“I would encourage residents not to overwhelm the facilities and would urge residents who can retain their waste for a few days longer to do so while demand for the facilities reduces.

“I would also encourage residents to check the real time traffic maps at the following link before travelling to the recycling centres”

Before that Mr MacDonald said he had been inundated with complaints following the closure of the two centres just after 10am. Many residents who have been turned away had been waiting in the queues for over two hours.

He said Falkirk Council did not having a proper booking system in place, while other local authorities in Scotland had introduced such systems.

He also urged residents who can retain their waste for a few days longer to do that while demand for the facilities reduces over the next few days.

Speaking this morning, Mr MacDonald said: “While Falkirk Council has to be commended for the work it has done during the current pandemic, is has to be said it could have avoided this shambles at its two recycling centres this morning.

“I can understand the anger and frustration of residents turned away from Kinneil and Roughmute this morning, with many having spent over two hours in the queue.

“I would urge Falkirk Council to introduce a booking system which would help manage the traffic, instead of the current free-for-all which has clearly failed this morning.

“Other local authorities around the country have done just that, so why not Falkirk Council? However, it is also incumbent on residents not to overwhelm the facilities. I would urge residents who can retain their waste for a few days longer to do that while demand for the facilities reduces.”