THORNBURY rubbish tip is one of two South Gloucestershire centres having to close temporarily after staff caught coronavirus and their colleagues need to self isolate.

South Gloucestershire Council says there are not enough employees at its waste contractor Suez to keep the Sort It recycling centres in Thornbury and Little Stoke open as planned towards the end of the second lockdown.

It insists the risk to anyone who has visited the sites was “extremely low”.

The local authority said in its weekly email newsletter to residents on Tuesday (November 24): “Our Thornbury Sort It recycling centre will be closed next weekend (November 28-29) but will reopen next Monday, November 30.

“Our Little Stoke centre will be closed until at least November 30.

“These closures are because of staffing shortages as a result of some Suez staff members testing positive for Covid-19 and others needing to also self-isolate as contacts.

“Mangotsfield and Yate centres remain open for essential use only. 

“The risk to members of the public who may have visited any of our sites recently is extremely low. 

“Please remember, though, that you should only use Sort It centres for absolutely essential visits.”

Kerbside waste and recycling collections continue as normal.