Concerns about an increase in fly-tipping in Derbyshire
High Peak household waste recycling centre could close
Worried opposition councillors fear a money-saving proposal by Derbyshire County Council’s Reform UK administration to close a High Peak household waste recycling centre could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.
The Reform UK-controlled council is considering the future of the Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre, on Melandra Road, to save £360,000 as part of £22.4 million of saving plans for the 2026-27 financial year due to be addressed at a Cabinet meeting on January 9.
Cllr Carol Wood, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment, claims the centre collects the lowest volume of waste out of all the council’s nine waste sites and that it is predominantly used by people from outside Derbyshire who do not pay council tax to the authority.
But Conservative, Green Party, Labour and Independent councillors have raised concerns including that residents will have to travel further away for the High Peak’s only other waste site at Waterswallows, in Buxton, and that the proposed Glossop closure may trigger an increase in fly-tipping while some also dispute claims the site is mainly used by outsiders.
Conservative Cllr Jean Wharmby, for Glossop North, said: “The Conservative Opposition Group is totally opposed to the proposed closure of Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre and to the closure of any of Derbyshire’s tips.
“These are well-used, valued facilities that local residents rely on and there is simply no justification for shutting them down.
“What makes this proposal all the more frustrating is that the previous Conservative administration managed to keep all nine recycling centres open through some of the toughest financial pressures Local Government has ever faced. If we could do it then, residents are entitled to ask why Reform can’t do it now?
“We also fundamentally reject the assertion that Glossop tip is predominantly used by non-Derbyshire residents. That claim flies in the face of the vehicle registration system we introduced specifically to prevent out-of-county use. If Reform believe otherwise, they need to publish the evidence.
“There is a very real concern locally that closing this site will simply push people towards fly-tipping, storing waste at home, or travelling further-a-field, none of which are good for residents, the environment or council finances.
“And many people are rightly asking whether this is just the thin end of the wedge. If Glossop can be closed, which tip will be next?”
The council has predicted a shortfall in its budget for the 2026-27 financial year of £37.8m which has led to the latest proposed savings measures or planned cuts being put forward to set a balanced budget and ensure the provision of essential services.
Its new overall saving proposals aim to deliver £22.4m of savings in 2026-27 to support meeting the forecast budget funding shortfall and it says the remaining shortfall will be made up from £2.5m of savings with changes to the way the council operates and with £12.9m to be saved from corporate budgets.
These saving plans could see the closure of the Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre, a review of fee rates for home care, changes to the community support beds system in care homes to reduce costs, more technology to support adult social care, and a service redesign with a ‘transformation’ department and the removal of long-term vacancies across corporate services.
The council claims the Glossop centre collects the lowest volume of waste out of all of the nine household waste recycling centres that the council provides.
It also estimates that around seven out of ten visitors who use the site live outside of the county and it claims a substantial £500,000 investment would be needed to make sure the site complies with modern requirements and safety regulations to stay open.
The council has also pointed out that most Derbyshire districts and boroughs operate with one waste site and the High Peak currently has two tips including the Glossop site and one in Buxton.
Green Party Group Leader, Cllr Gez Kinsella, said: “The closure of this centre is another example of ‘get less, pay more’.
“The nearest recycling centre is over an hour round trip. The effect? More fly-tipping. Based on the total tonnage of Derbyshire’s recycling centres, we can estimate that around nine tonnes of waste will go uncollected. This is approximately 110 wheelie bins of waste, much of it will be fly-tipped in our beautiful national park.
“The claim the waste centre is under-used begs the question why and what can be done about this? Derbyshire County Council’s own data shows more than a doubling of processed waste at Glossop in recent years. It’s all too easy just to close down public services.
“As for the service being used by households from outside Derbyshire. Really? Didn’t Derbyshire County Council introduce a registration scheme at the cost of £200,000 last year to prevent this? Don’t Reform understand how their own waste service is being run?
“Reform have shown again they lack the innovation and creativity to effectively run the council. Why can’t they explore what Derby City are doing – generating income by selling reusable items. This has been so successful, the trial ‘shop’ has been made permanent.
“You can only conclude Reform are unable to run a waste service yet continue to waste Derbyshire council tax-payers’ money.”
Independent Councillor, Amy Wheelton, who represents Linton, said she is greatly concerned as a farmer and councillor about the possible loss of a council asset, a residential amenity and services and the potential increase in fly-tipping that the proposed closure of the Glossop waste site may cause.
Labour Group Leader, Cllr Anne Clarke, said: “I will be asking for evidence regarding Reform’s claim that the Glossop Household Waste and Recycling Centre is being disproportionately used by non-Derbyshire residents, as this certainly isn’t the feeling of residents here.
“I feel especially annoyed about the other reason being given that the site requires substantial investment. Why does our area of Derbyshire not deserve some investment to update these facilities, especially when this Labour Government is putting millions of additional funding into the council’s coffers?
“This is a short-sighted, short-term decision to try and save money without any real thought to impact. Our residents deserve better.”
Cllr Wharmby and Cllr Clarke have submitted questions for the Cabinet to consider at its meeting on January 9 regarding their concerns over the proposed closure of the Glossop waste site.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment, Cllr Carol Wood, said: “Making sure this council is as efficient as it can be and that every pound of council tax-payers’ money is accounted for and spent wisely is our top priority.
“We’re scrutinising all of our services to ensure they give value for money and are delivering for our residents, as well as making sure there’s no wasteful spending on any projects or schemes, so that we can ensure the council is financially sound.
“With considerable investment needed at Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre to make it fit for the future, coupled with the fact that it’s the least used of all of our recycling centres and is being used predominantly by people who do not live in Derbyshire and so do not pay their council tax here, it’s important that we look at all the options.
“This includes whether there’s a different way to provide the service or whether the service is still needed at all.
“We’re looking at all the options before deciding on the best way forward – either continue running the centre and invest around £0.5m needed to bring it up to the required standards in the future or consult with the public over its closure.”
The proposed closure of the Glossop waste centre is included among a number of a potential saving plans in a wider report on Budget Savings Proposals for 2026-27 due to be considered by the Cabinet on January 9.
Derbyshire County Council has stated that if the proposed savings and efficiencies do not progress then alternative savings will need to be found by services in order to meet a legal obligation to set a balanced budget.
The council’s Resources Scrutiny Committee will also consider the new budget saving proposals on January 14 before providing feedback and a budget-setting report will then be considered by the Cabinet on January 29 before the matter goes to a Full Council meeting on February 11.
If the council agrees to move forward with the proposals, some will be subject to further Cabinet reports and followed by appropriate public engagement or consultation before any final decisions such as the proposal relating to the Glossop waste centre.
High Peak Borough Cllr Adrian Hopkinson, who represents Old Glossop, said: “I have serious concerns about the proposed closure of the Glossop Recycling Centre. Derbyshire County Council officers have sought to close the centre for around 10 years.
“Cllr Jean Wharmby has fought every year to keep it open. At one stage, a weak bridge to the site was blamed. Cllr Wharmby fought for a new bridge.
“The Reform-led Derbyshire County Council were elected on a promise to cut waste and reduce taxes. They have recently announced plans for the maximum council tax increase allowed, yet they are proposing closing a vital facility.
“Fly tipping is already too common around my ward, I do fear this proposal will only cause an increase. I hope that common sense prevails.”
The council’s budget plan does not rule out job cuts but it states that it will seek to avoid this where possible through other savings within departments with vacancy controls, redeployment and ‘voluntary release’.
Derbyshire County Council currently runs nine waste recycling centres across the county for Derbyshire residents including Chesterfield, Bolsover, Loscoe, Northwood at Darley Dale, Ilkeston, Glossop, Ashbourne, Bretby and Waterswallows, at Buxton.
The council’s previous Conservative administration reduced opening hours in 2024 at eight of its nine waste sites, excluding Buxton, and introduced charges for tyre and asbestos disposals as well as a vehicle number plate recognition system to deter outsiders to save £500,000 as part of efforts to overcome a multi-million pound budget deficit.