THREE members of North Ayrshire Council's opposition Labour group have called-in the SNP administration’s decision to introduce a digital booking system to use the region’s recycling centres.

The newly-elected councillor for Arran, Charles Currie, was joined by Labour group leader Joe Cullinane and Irvine East Councillor Nairn Angus-McDonald in challenging the decision from the cabinet.

Speaking after submitting the call-in, Cllr Angus-McDonald said: “The way North Ayrshire’s recycling centres currently operate, works. Introducing a digital booking system would be trying to fix something that isn’t broken.

“The SNP’s decision to introduce a booking system for recycling centres shows how out of touch they are. 

“To make this decision days before you unveil a set of budget proposals that would reduce blue and purple bin collections, increase special uplift charges to £55 and introduce a £50 charge for brown bin collections is staggering. 

“Taken collectively, these are a set of proposals that would take North Ayrshire’s waste collection services from their current crisis point of regular missed collections, to a complete decimation of the service.

“North Ayrshire SNP are a fly-tippers’ dream.”

Cllr Currie added: “Arran’s recycling centre is open very few hours as it is. 

“Given that the island doesn’t receive the full waste collection that the mainland does, anything that is going to further curtail islanders’ opportunity to dispose of waste has to be challenged.”

However, the SNP administration hit back, claiming the new system would have major benefits for residents.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for the green environment and economy, said: “This project emulates several other similar schemes currently running, including in our neighbouring authorities.

“The benefits for residents include less queueing, better customer experience as users are guaranteed entry with no delay, and the ability to support less able users.

“As we will have less contamination and improved recycling, we will spend less on disposal, saving money for other areas. 

“In addition this will ensure that only North Ayrshire residents, who after all pay for this service, are able to use it."

Cllr Gurney added: “The system expands the digital offering from the council and is no different to other systems used to, for example, schedule shopping deliveries. 

“That said we will have systems in place for those who do not have access to the requisite IT.

“Unlike many of the scare stories doing the rounds the system would not have long lead times with slots being offered whenever available, including on the day, and the ability to book multiple slots on one day.

“We also hope that ensuring a place at the facility will ensure that those unable to access it will not continue to resort to fly-tipping if they are unable to recycle their load. 

“This guaranteed access is particularly important for those on Arran who have too often made difficult journeys only to be turned away.

“The same scare stories were repeated elsewhere in Scotland where after commission user research reported that over 95 per cent were satisfied with their experience of using the site, 97 per cent were satisfied with availability of slots, and more than 98 per cent of respondents rated the booking system easy to use.

"We would hope to emulate that here in North Ayrshire.”