Long queues for a Letchworth tip have put the brakes on people attempting to visit an allotment site and trading store on an adjoining road.

Frustrated drivers have been queueing up to complain about long waiting times along Blackhorse Road to use the household waste recycling centre over the past two weeks.

The Letchworth District Gardeners Association – which has operated a trading store at the Norton allotment site since 1938 – say customers have been put off tackling the traffic to visit the Flint Road store.

Association secretary Jo Tofts said: “For the past two weeks visits to our store have been significantly lower than normal because of the queues for the tip.

“Even if you drive down the outside of the traffic drivers are very reluctant to move an inch to let you through to turn left into Flint Road.

“Heavens forbid you should ever try queue jumping!

“I’ve never known the traffic for the tip this bad and have seen many drivers attempting U-turns.

“On Sunday morning it was our annual seedling swap and turnout was remarkably poor mainly due to everyone being put off by the traffic jams. Everyone is affected by this and nothing seems to be getting done.”

Herts County Council, which manages the site, decided to alter the opening hours of tips in the area from the start of the year, meaning the Letchworth facility is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the Stevenage site is shut on Thursdays and Fridays.

Jacqueline Angell, who lives in Letchworth, said: “Surely, the whole point of recycling centres is to benefit the environment but if residents are unable to recycle their rubbish by visiting them, then this negates the original purpose of these centres.

“I, and many others, hope that the recycling centres can revert as soon as possible to the previous opening hours which have been in force for decades now.”

Police – called to the road by a member of the public last week due to fears over safety – are in discussion with Herts County Council over the traffic concerns at the site.

County Hall head of waste management Matthew King said: “Spring is always a very busy period for the county’s 17 recycling centres.

“The current good weather, combined with the Easter school holidays adds to the pressure and some users have experienced delays in accessing the centres.

“We are working with the highways department, the police and the contracted operators to better manage these peak periods and will communicate with residents to provide information to assist in avoiding the peak queuing times.”