Visitation numbers at Oxfordshire’s recycling facilities have fallen since the authority launched an appointment-only arrangement, a full session of the county council was informed.

The site at Alkerton close to Banbury has experienced a 48 per cent decline compared with February the previous year, with Ardley Fields dropping 32 per cent, Drayton falling 38 per cent, Oakley Wood decreasing 35 per cent and Redbridge down 28 per cent.

Conservative group leader Liam Walker addressed the Oxfordshire County Council gathering on Tuesday, March 24, attributing the decline to excessive administrative procedures.

The online reservation scheme was rolled out by the Liberal Democrat administration during mid-January, yet approximately 26 per cent of visitors to the seven household waste recycling centres are not securing their slots beforehand.

Conservative representative Lee Evans presented a proposal to fellow councillors urging reconsideration of the new arrangement.

He stated that Oxfordshire County Council had maintained the top position nationally for waste recycling centre performance throughout eleven consecutive years.

However, he suggested the present administration was endangering that standing through what he described as superfluous and unwelcome conditions for tip usage.

He described the situation as absurd, stating that residents now must complete extensive booking documentation simply to deposit garden waste.

Mr Walker, who leads the Oxfordshire Alliance, suggested the regulations implied a lack of confidence in local people, who were being subjected to oversight, tracking and authorisation requirements to access the facilities.

He noted that the modifications introduced red tape, created obstacles and communicated entirely the incorrect message to inhabitants.

He expressed that residents were growing increasingly frustrated with constantly seeking approval from the Liberal Democrat administration to conduct routine activities.

He mentioned that entry permits were now necessary for the city, specific criteria applied to driving along certain main shopping streets, incorrect navigation at junctions resulted in penalties, and parking to support neighbourhood businesses attracted escalating fees.

He further noted that household waste disposal now also required identity verification and time-specific booking authorisation.

Liberal Democrat Rebekah Fletcher challenged the timing of the discussion, suggesting it should return to the council once substantive data rather than mere impressions were available.

Judy Roberts, the portfolio holder responsible for place, environment and climate action, commented that while social media remarks had been observed, these did not constitute evidence.

She indicated that members of the public had not expressed concerns about supplying identification such as proof of residence to secure a slot.

Ms Roberts noted that visitor numbers did not necessarily provide the complete picture.

Certain levels of commercial misuse had always existed, and some modifications had been specifically designed to address such misuse, meaning those individuals would no longer be attending.

Mr Evans’ proposal was defeated through a vote.