A NEW recycling “super centre” is causing huge traffic queues — creating problems for local residents.

The new centre officially opened at Salford Road, Over Hulton, in October after a decision was made by Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority to close a smaller recycling facility in Blackrod, along with six others across Greater Manchester.

Alan Turner, who lives opposite the entrance to the super centre, said that at weekends, large traffic jams are forming near to the site.

He said: “When the centre first opened things worked quite well and traffic was free flowing in the area, but now it is ridiculous and on Saturdays, there is traffic queuing as far as the eye can see.

“I think the powers that be need to do something about the entrance to the site because it is immediately off the main road.”

Mr Turner, who has lived in Salford Road since 2005, said he feared the situation will get worse as the weather improves, adding: “Can you imagine what it is going to be like around here during the summer when everybody is bringing their garden waste to drop at the plant?”

A spokesman for GMWDA said the site had been designed with a long queuing lane to “minimise any residual road traffic”.

He added: “The opening hours are as per the site’s planning conditions approved by Bolton Council. Unfortunately, if residents arrive early to the site and want to queue up, we are not able to do anything to stop this.”

GMWDA said that feedback received from a community liaison group meeting in February suggested that queuing traffic at the site was “no longer a problem”.

A community newsletter will be distributed in the area announcing that the centre’s opening hours will change from this week, when the centre will be open from 8am to 8pm on Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The spokesman added: “We are happy to conduct a further assessment over the weekends and place additional advertising if required following these results.”