RESIDENTS in more than a dozen villages have been warned to expect delays in waste collection in coming months.

North Yorkshire County Council is carrying out extensive work on the Chapel Haddlesey Bridge on the A19, which will see the road closed for three months from Monday, October 1.

Although a diversion will be put in place for traffic, meaning cars and vans can take alternative routes through local villages, the diversion routes include a low bridge which is not suitable for refuse and recycling wagons, or a 26-mile detour on the M62.

Cllr Chris Pearson, executive member, said: “We have been working with Amey to identify alternative routes which we hope will reduce the impact on rounds.

"The route we have identified - via Birkin and Beal - will add approximately 20 minutes each way to each round operating in this area but until the closure is in place we won’t know exactly what impact it will have.

“There may be delays to rounds on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and we may need to make some temporary day changes - including potential Saturday work.

"We are making all parishes and ward councillors in the affected areas aware of the potential disruption and we’re letting local residents know this could impact their collections.”

Areas that will be affected are Beal, Chapel Haddlesey, Cridling Stubbs, Eggborough, Heck, Great Heck and Little Heck, Hensall, Hirst Courtney, Kellingley, Kellington, Kirk Smeaton, Little Smeaton, Temple Hirst, Walden Stubbs, West Haddlesey, Whitley and Womersley.

Where changes need to be made to collection days, residents will be informed in writing.

Cllr Pearson said the situation would be monitored on a weekly basis.