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Newsround

Council under fire with chaos again at Sutton tip

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If you ventured anywhere near the tip this week, you likely found yourself stuck in a queue that stretched far beyond the entrance gates. Once again, residents are facing massive delays, and the knock-on effect is causing major disruption across the entire local area.

It simply isn’t good enough. It’s inefficient, costly and potentially dangerous – with accidents waiting to happen.

Residents in Birmingham attempting to dispose of their rubbish this week have been met with gridlocked traffic, as queues for the Norris Way recycling centre spiral out of control. The severe backlog is causing chaos on Coleshill Road, with lines of traffic snaking all the way back to the Kings Arms pub, raising serious concerns about public safety and local accessibility.

This waste management crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing Birmingham bin strike and a surge in garden waste due to the summer weather, is turning the weekly tip run into a daily ordeal for motorists.

Queues cause standstill on Coleshill Road

The disruption at the Sutton Coldfield tip is no longer confined to the site itself. Witnesses report that traffic is backing out of Norris Way, spilling onto major arteries, and causing significant delays for commuters and local businesses.

“It’s becoming a daily nightmare,” said one frustrated resident. “The traffic is backing up to the Kings Arms. It’s inefficient, costly, and potentially dangerous—accidents are waiting to happen.”

Similar issues have also been reported at the Perry Barr recycling centre, suggesting a city-wide failure in waste disposal services during the current industrial action.

Garden waste problem

With summer in full swing, green waste is piling up faster than the site can process it. The on-site containers are struggling to keep up with demand as residents take advantage of the good weather. However, with no kerbside garden waste collections taking place due to the strike, the tips have become the only outlet, overwhelming capacity.

Adding to the mayhem is a lack of adherence to the booking system. Staff are reportedly turning away vehicles without appointments, but these rejected cars remain in the queue, adding to the gridlock and wasting fuel.

‘Root cause is bin strike’

Local officials are now stepping in, calling for urgent action from the new Birmingham City Council administration and waste contractor Veolia.

Reddicap ward councillor, David Pears, spoke out about the “unsustainable” situation on his Facebook page. He stated:

“The queues we are seeing are completely unsustainable. It’s not just an inconvenience—it’s bringing our local roads to a standstill, affecting businesses, bus routes, and emergency vehicle access. While we are pressing council officers for answers, the root cause is clear. This seemingly never-ending bin strike is crippling our waste services. The new administration at Birmingham City Council must make resolving this strike their absolute number one priority. Our communities cannot afford to wait any longer.”

Impact on business and emergency services

The traffic disruption is having a domino effect across the area. Local business owners are reporting reduced footfall as customers avoid the area, while bus passengers face significant delays due to diverted routes.

Most critically, there are growing fears that the stationary traffic will block access for emergency services. With roads at a standstill, an ambulance or fire engine could face life-threatening delays trying to navigate through the chaos.

What can residents do?

Until the industrial action is resolved, residents are advised to:

  • Stick to the booking system: Ensure you have a valid appointment before visiting the tip to avoid being turned away.
  • Check live traffic: Use local traffic apps to check the status of Coleshill Road before setting off.
  • Home composting: Where possible, consider home composting for garden waste to reduce the burden on the site.
Newsround

Safe parking outside schools: key guidelines

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Parking in school areas can cause traffic chaos and be dangersous. West Midlands Police have put out this comprehensive guidance

Pick-up and drop-off times are busy outside schools in the Sutton Coldfield area. This can cause an increased safety risk to both children and parents.

Parking restrictions outside schools are there to keep you and your children safe. Parking inconsiderately can put people in danger and you also risk being fined. It’s important that motorists follow the Highway Code.

Parking restrictions outside schools

Understanding yellow zigzag markings

Most school entrances and exits in the UK have yellow zigzag road markings with the writing ‘School Keep Clear’.

Zigzags can also be found at entrances and exits of hospitals, fire stations, police stations and ambulance stations. They indicate the part of the road where motorists should not wait, stop, or park a vehicle.

Sometimes there may be an accompanying sign that shows specific times when these restrictions are in place. Motorists are legally allowed to park on the zigzags outside of these hours.

Both yellow and white zigzags also show areas that must be kept clear so that children and other road users can see clearly when crossing the road.

Parking on yellow zigzags

You can legally park on yellow zigzags under certain circumstances.

Yellow zigzags without accompanying signs advise motorists not to wait or park there at any time for the safety of children and others. We can and do issue tickets for parking on them, based on causing an obstruction to other motorists or pedestrians.

Some yellow zigzags have a single or double yellow line, which indicate different parking restrictions.

Find out more:

  • The Highway Code – Parking and Waiting
  • The Highway Code – Road Markings

Parking opposite yellow zigzags

You can legally park opposite yellow zigzags. However, this can make crossing the road more dangerous, especially for children. Some schools have yellow zigzags on both sides of the road for this reason.

Safety tips for parking outside schools

When picking up or dropping off children at schools, you should do the following:

· Allow yourself plenty of time as the area is likely to be busy.

· Do not park on yellow zigzag lines and avoid parking opposite them.

· If you decide to park further away, please be considerate of local residents and avoid blocking driveways or accessways.

Fines

Local councils can issue motorists with penalty charge notices (PCN) for waiting, stopping, or parking on yellow zigzags if restrictions are in place. These are issued by civil enforcement officers.

Most parking or waiting fines are now enforced as a civil matter, rather than a police matter. A PCN does not result in a criminal record or points on a licence if dealt with by the council.

In some areas, the local council doesn’t have civil parking enforcement powers. In these areas parking is enforced by us or by police-employed traffic wardens who will issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) . These are enforced through the criminal justice system.

Fines can vary depending on location. Stopping in a restricted area outside a school will result in a higher fine. The fee is also halved if paid within 14 days and you have 28 days to pay or challenge the fine.