TIPS should be re-opened to help reduce the increasing problem of fly-tipping, according to the MP for Bournemouth East.

Tobias Ellwood said so long as proper social distancing measures were introduced, Millhams recycling centre – and others across the country – could be brought back into use.

But BCP Council said it would not re-open its three tips until government guidance was changed and that there had been no increase in fly-tipping incidents.

Millhams in Bournemouth was closed, alongside the Nuffield and Wilverley Road tips in Poole and Christchurch, last month as the council reprioritised its waste collection services.

Staff absences due to sickness and self-isolation prompted it to focus on its kerbside waste and recycling collections.

But Mr Ellwood said it was now time to bring the tips back into use under an initial trial period to avoid exacerbating the issue.

“There’s a steady thoroughfare of people wanting to use the recycling centre at any juncture and there will be a cumulative pressure – even more so now,” he said.

“You would anticipate spacing restrictions to be introduced as a reflection of the government guidance and this must be observed.

“We are seeing a nation that wants to make this work but there is a reality that life goes on and this would help avoid a build up of fly-tipping and waste not being disposed of appropriately.”

He said the council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic had been “incredible” and said any re-opening would be dependent on it having both the staff available and its ability to implement social distancing.

But the council’s cabinet member for the environment, councillor Felicity Rice, said until rules on non-essential travel were changed, the tips would remain closed.

“We made the difficult decision to suspend some of our waste collection services after experiencing staff absences due to sickness and self-isolation issues,” she said.

“Keeping the tips open now, would go against government advice on non-essential travel and therefore, these sites will remain closed until this advice changes.”

She said she understood their closure was “frustrating” but that the council had seen no increase in fly-tipping incidents compared to last year.

However, complaints about bonfires have increased.