FINAL preparations are being made for the reopening of the recycling centre in Gourock next week.

The Kirn Drive depot will be back up and running on Monday, from 8am-6pm.

It has been closed since lockdown started and its return follows the recent reopening of the main civic amenity site at Pottery Street in Greenock.

Only residual household waste, garden waste, cardboard and wood will be accepted at Kirn Drive for the time being and no vans or trailers will be allowed in.

The site is expected to be 'extremely busy' during the first week and there may be queues and temporary closures throughout the day to allow staff to empty skips.

The council has made plans for the old red blaes pitch on Drumshantie Road to be used as a waiting area for queuing cars and there will be a traffic management system in place to control the flow of vehicles in and out.

Last entry will be at 5.30pm each day and the site will be closed on a Thursday.

Councillor Michael McCormick, convener of environment & regeneration, said: “It’s great that after nearly 12 weeks of closure due to lockdown, Kirn Drive depot will be reopened to residents once again.

“This will give people in and around Gourock a closer alternative to the Pottery Street recycling centre in Greenock and help ease the unprecedented demand we’ve seen there.

“However, I’d ask residents who plan to use Kirn Drive to familiarise themselves with what materials will be accepted and of the temporary opening hours before they visit the site, to avoid disappointment when they get there.

“The site will return to full capacity as soon as possible.

“I’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding as staff work hard to get waste and recycling services back to normal and to the staff themselves for all their efforts in getting things back up and running so smoothly.”

People using the Pottery Street or Kirn Drive depots are reminded to observe social distancing of at least two-metres at all times and to maintain good hand hygiene before, during and after they visit.

Due to government safety guidelines, council staff are unable to assist with unloading vehicles and no trailers of any kind are currently permitted at any of the depots.

Vans are only permitted at Pottery Street, to dispose of household waste, during weekdays only.

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GETTING READY Cllr McCormick pictured with Aileen McQuillan, commercial services officer.