Hartlepool Tip Row Deepens As Booking Website Goes Down...

Locals unable to book an appointment at the tip, as council website goes down.

Website Outage Leaves Hartlepool Residents Unable To Book Tip Appointments..

2nd May 2026

Locals living in Hartlepool have been left unable to book appointments online for the town’s tip after Hartlepool Borough Council’s online forms were hit by an apparent website outage.

The issue's reportedly affected the council’s official online booking system for the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Burn Road since Friday Morning, with visitors attempting to make an appointment being met with a maintenance message instead of the usual booking form.

When checked, the booking page stated: “Please be aware that our site is currently undergoing maintenance. We appreciate your patience and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Locals trying to book an appointment are being met with this message online & left being unable to book an appointment

The problem comes just weeks after Hartlepool Borough Council reintroduced appointments at the Burn Road Household Waste Recycling Centre, with residents now required to book before visiting the site. The council said appointments could be booked online from Wednesday 1 April and that only Hartlepool residents are permitted to use the facility.

According to information displayed on the council’s website, its online forms are temporarily unavailable, with residents advised to call 01429 266522 and select the relevant option if

they need to make a payment or discuss an emergency.

The outage has added further frustration to a scheme which has already proved controversial among some residents. Since the appointment system returned, locals have raised concerns about a lack of available slots, with some claiming they have faced waits of more than a week to book a visit. Others have questioned the need for the system at all, claiming they've arrived at the tip after securing an appointment only to find the site relatively quiet or even “empty”.

Hartlepool Borough Council previously said the booking system was being brought back to improve safety, efficiency and cost control. The council also said residents attending the site should bring photographic ID and proof of address and be prepared to show them to staff if requested. However, the latest website problem is likely to increase criticism from residents who already feel the system has made disposing of household waste more difficult than it needs to be & will only serve to cause an increase in fly tipping across the borough.

With no clear public timescale yet for when the online booking forms will be fully restored, residents needing to use the service may have little option but to contact the council directly by phone.