HAMPSHIRE County Council is preparing to safely reopen Household Waste Recycling Centres like the one along Bedford Road in Petersfield, next Monday (May 11).

The recyclking centres were temporarily closed at the end of March as part of the coronavirus lockdown.

County councillor Rob Humby said: “As the country begins to consider steps for coming out of lockdown, I appreciate how opening the recycling centres is seen as an important way forward.

"We have been working on plans to reopen our sites for people to use where it is essential they do so because they cannot store their waste without causing a risk of injury, health or harm.

“When they are ready to re-open a range of new measures will be in place.

"This will mean that things will be very different and I would ask people to be patient.

"Rather like supermarkets, social distancing measures will apply, limiting the number of people allowed in at any one time and operating reduced opening hours so the sites can be thoroughly cleaned each day. "I can also confirm that in view of the current circumstances we will not be enforcing the number plate recognition provisions during this period but allow more time for Hampshire residents to register their car registrations.”