This is the latest information on when Chesterfield area tips and recycling centres could reopen

The authority says it needs to put in place social distancing measures and be certain contractors can take waste away once it is brought to tips by the public.

Recycling centres at Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, and Buttermilk Lane, Bolsover, closed when lockdown measures were introduced.

Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said: “We are doing all we can to get our household waste recycling centres re-open as soon as we can, but this is going to take a few weeks rather than a few days.

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“I know that many people would like to see our centres open and I’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding.

“Before we re-open we need to make sure that we consider all of the practicalities, like putting social distancing measures in place, and make sure that our contractors can deal with the waste that people bring into us, many of whom have been closed since lockdown started.

“We’re pulling all the stops out to make this happen as quickly as possible, and as soon as we can confirm a date we will let people know.

“We will also need to work with the police as we will need their agreement for plans to manage the traffic around many of our sites, especially those next to major roads.

“And we need the Government to make it clear that visiting a site is classed as an essential journey.”