The Only One: Narrow

Cllr Rick Jewell (left), Cabinet Member for Transport and Waste, and Cllr Ergin Erbil (right), Leader of Enfield Council, on-site in Enfield.
Photo credit: Lee Armitt, Enfield Council.

With a population of over 330,000 inhabitants spread across just 31 square miles, space is at a premium in Enfield. Its streets are packed with parked cars, and the dense housing means that a typical refuse collection round can easily exceed a staggering 1,300 lifts per day. These demanding conditions requiring a narrow track truck with a compact footprint led Julian Minta, Head of Fleet & Transport Operations, Environment & Communities Directorate at Enfield Council together with his team to choose the short-wheelbase, 26-tonne Elite+ Narrow with a Terberg Split Lifter. The 6X2 layout relies on rear-steer to provide excellent manoeuvrability with drivers benefitting from the reduced turning circle. “We’ve relied on Dennis Eagle vehicles for many years here,” says Minta. “They get the job done and the Narrow is the only truck that could meet our requirements on our toughest tight access roads.”

Improving efficiency

Since Covid, the situation has got tougher for Enfield’s refuse collection crews, with urban streets becoming even more congested. To minimise operator stress and the risk of damage to vehicles, tyres and street furniture, Enfield is taking delivery this month of two 2250mm wide, 26-tonne Elite+ Narrow 6x2 chassis. Further deliveries are scheduled as part of an ongoing fleet replacement programme through the TPPL framework, designed to improve efficiency of waste collection in the borough. Maintained in-house by Enfield, the first pair will be in action from April 2025.

“Our teams handle a huge number of lifts—often 1,300 per day, five days a week—and the Narrow Elite+ is the preferred truck that we can safely use on certain domestic rounds,” adds Minta. “The vehicles work hard, with typically a seven-year lifecycle, so we need something functional and fit for purpose. The Dennis Eagle vehicle is ideal. We’ll be dedicating these to the domestic routes where we struggle with access.”

Focus on safety

For Enfield, safety is paramount. The Elite+’s five-star Direct Vision rating was a major advantage, and the council has also added 4G live feed cameras and pedestrian protection side panels to match the rest of its 60-strong fleet.

Looking after the crew

Crew welfare is equally important, and once again, the Elite+ stands out. The 2025  Elite+ has three separate seats to help provide operators with their own space, whilst the recessed outer seat makes getting in and out of the vehicle even easier, as well as making visibility for the driver looking across better. “The low-entry, walk-through cab is a great feature, and inside, there’s plenty of room,” says Minta. “It’s comfortable and functional, and the drivers who operate the Dennis Eagle trucks really like them.”