BOURNEMOUTH'S tip will be closed for a month this Autumn while essential drainage work is carried out.

Back in 2016 it was revealed that Millhams Community Recycling Centre in Ringwood Road, jointly run by Bournemouth and Poole councils, required some £1.5 million worth of work done to install sealed drainage.

The lack of drainage breaches the environmental permit for the site as rainwater run-off from the waste dumped on the concrete surface can leech into nearby waterways, leaving the councils potentially facing a fine of up to £450,000.

The site will offer only a limited service from August 13, but will close entirely from September 24 for four weeks.

In an email to councillors Georgina Fry, Bournemouth council environmental projects manager, said: "As you may be aware, we are working to improve the drainage at Millhams Community Recycling Centre in order to comply with the site’s environmental permit.

"We have installed a large attenuation tank to collect rainwater run-off from the site, and a pumping station to discharge the collected water to the foul sewer on Millhams Road.

"The next phase of the project is to replace the concrete slab in the middle of the site where waste is normally stored."

She added: "We aim to keep the disruptions to a minimum, however there are still likely to be some delays on-site and confusion with the changes, so would like to thank residents in advance for their patience while we complete these necessary improvements."

From August 13 there will be a temporary service in the front half of the site, open as normal between 9am and 5pm, seven days a week, but it will not accept asbestos, plasterboard, tyres or gas cylinders which must be taken to other centres in the area.

The commercial weighbridge will be closed for the whole period, from August 13 until October 21, so commercial waste must be taken to Poole's Nuffield Household Waste Recycling Centre in Nuffield Road.

The pour for the new concrete slab will see the whole site at Millhams closed from September 24, during which time residents will also need to travel to Nuffield Road, or to the Christchurch Household Recycling Centre in Wilverley Road. The former is open for an extended time from 8am to 8pm, the latter from 9am to 6pm.

Bournemouth residents will need to show proof of address.

Ms Fry said: "Despite the extended opening times, it is likely that both Nuffield and Wilverley Road recycling centres will be busier than usual.

"So we will be urging residents, if at all possible, to postpone visiting until after October 22 when Millhams has reopened."

Millhams will reopen on October 22 at 8:30am for commercial customers and at 9am for residents.