A NUMBER plate system is to be reintroduced at a Crewe's waste site because of congestion caused by roadworks.

Residents using the household waste recycling centre site in Pyms Lane will be forced to queue again as traffic has spiralled recently due to the ongoing work along Middlewich Road.

Cheshire East Council says to ease the traffic and demand on the site, the vehicle number plate system first used when the waste site reopened after lockdown closure on May 11 will be back in force from this Friday.

Drivers' access to the site will be based on the last number on their vehicle registration plate on alternate days. Even numbers, i.e. 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8, will be given access to the site on alternate days starting from Friday.

Number plates on which the last number is odd, i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, will be allowed on alternate days from Saturday (July 11).

The rota for the first week of the restrictions is shown as follows;

Friday 10 July Even

Saturday 11 July Odd

Sunday 12 July Even

Monday 13 July Odd

Tuesday 14 July Even

Wednesday 15 July Odd

Thursday 16 July Even

Friday 17 July Odd

The road works, which involve a rebuild of Boulderstone Bridge, have seen the closure of the A530 from the junction of Coppenhall Lane to Pyms Lane, forcing traffic to take circuitous routes around town. They are due to be completed in October.

A Cheshire East spokesman said: "Congestion in the area is highly likely to continue for a number of weeks. Residents are advised to only use the Crewe site on the relevant day for their vehicle registration plate if it's essential, or to visit the nearby Alsager site instead."

The additional restrictions that have been put into place at all Cheshire household waste recycling centres still apply at Crewe, including social distancing and refraining from asking for help from site staff to lift heavy items.