DRIVERS trying to get into the county's busiest council rubbish tip could soon have a smoother ride.

The household waste site in Wetherby Road, Harrogate, opposite the Great Yorkshire Showground, is so small that demand has far exceeded its capacity.

On some occasions, operators of the tip have had to close it during scheduled opening hours to clear a backlog of rubbish, causing long tailbacks as drivers become tangled with the regular traffic.

On busy days, drivers have waited more than an hour to get in to the site.

Now land alongside the tip, which is owned by Harrogate Borough Council, is being released to create more space for the Sonefall Houshold Waste Recycling Centre.

The extra land will ease traffic congestion in Wetherby Road, one of the busiest routes in Harrogate.

The council's cabinet has agreed to release the land with an agreement that the county council secures an extra waste site in the district.

Plans for the existing tip include improved lay-out to achieve fewer delays inside and outside the tip.

Council leader Mike Gardner said it was a key priority to improve traffic flow and to encourage more recycling of waste.

The county council hopes to keep the site open while improvements are carried out.