PORTISHEAD civic amenity site will not open until December - it has been revealed. The Portishead Times was told this week that the Valley Road tip, which closed in April, will remain shut until the end of the year

PORTISHEAD civic amenity site will not open until December - it has been revealed.The Portishead Times was told this week that the Valley Road tip, which closed in April, will remain shut until the end of the year.The tip closed in the Spring following concerns about the safety of the rockface.Repairs could not be carried out immediately because of peregrine falcons nesting on the cliffs.Council bosses had hoped to re-open the tip next month, but delays have meant the service will not be back up and running until the festive season.North Somerset Council spokesman Lucy Dicks said: "The work has gone out to tender and has yet to be assigned to a contractor."The council is estimating the work will be completed towards the end of the year."Once a contractor has been chosen then the matter has to go to committee for a decision before the work can start."Council chiefs said the delay had come because the birds took longer to move on than anticipated.A health and safety assessment also showed extensive netting needs to be put up right across the rockface.Miss Dicks said: "The length of time the work will take will depend on the contractor appointed."We are currently waiting to find out how much the work will cost and how long it will take."We understand it is inconvenient for residents that the tip is shut, but it is necessary because of the health and safety risks."News that the tip will not open until December has angered local residents who have been forced to make a 60-mile round tip to Weston tip if they want to dump rubbish on a Sunday.Portishead councillor David Pasley said: "This is ridiculous. I would have thought the council could have started the process of appointing a contractor back in the Spring when the tip first closed."It is very inconvenient for the people of Portishead and surrounding towns who need to get rid of their rubbish."The civic amenity site is one of the most important services for local people and one residents heavily rely on.