Questions over future of closed Cheltenham tip
The popular household recycling centre has been closed since January last year.
Questions have been raised over the prospects of Cheltenham’s tip reopening nine months on since the Liberal Democrats took the helm at Shire Hall.
The popular household recycling centre in Swindon Road was closed by Lib Dem-run Cheltenham Borough Council in January last year.
They said at the time that the decision to close the site was made because they had to comply with new environmental regulations and could not afford to spend the £1m needed on improvements.
At the time they had approached the then Conservative-run Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) about the possibility of them taking on the site.
However, Shire Hall chiefs were confident there was sufficient capacity at other sites including nearby Wingmoor Farm in Bishop’s Cleeve to cope with extra waste from the spa town.
Elliot Craddock, a member of the public, asked what progress has been made in reopening the Swindon Road tip at yesterday’s (March 23) Borough Council meeting.
Waste and recycling cabinet member Paul Baker (LD, Charlton Park) said in his written reply that when the tip was closed the then-Conservative administration at Shire Hall “refused point blank to offer any support whatsoever to reopening it, pointing out the ‘nearby’ facility they operate at Wingmoor Farm”.
“The good news, to a point, is that the new Liberal Democrat administration at GCC has been far more engaging with us about the future of the household recycling centre."
“Numerous meetings and an exploratory site visit have been held, and we are now awaiting to hear back from them following their review of options at the Swindon Road depot."
“Needless to say, whatever the outcome, the site still requires significant investment which will need to be funded by GCC but in our view there is no question that Cheltenham, as the largest urban centre in the county, must have its own household recycling centre for the convenience of its residents and the expanding population."
“In the meantime, Cheltenham Borough Council continues to expand the range of its kerbside recycling options which are soon to include tetra paks."
“In addition, the trial scheme for the collection of flexible plastic bags and packaging collection is ready to be rolled out across the town."
Mr Craddock said in a supplementary question that he understood the Cheltenham council announced the closure of the tip “rather abruptly without reaching out to the County Council for some help”.
“I’m more than happy for this to be provided afterwards in whatever form the council comes forward with but could they provide evidence to show they did reach out for some help first,” he said."
Borough Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) said when they announced its closure that they would be communicating with the County Council.
She said she then emailed Shire Hall’s then Conservative leader Stephen Davies (Hardwicke and Severn) for a conversation which took place via email.
“I did have a conversation with him and that was a ‘no’ and that was before we closed it”.
Cllr Davies confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the conversation did take place.
“Clearly, the running of recycling centres is a County Council responsibility and if there is a need now that one is closed it is for the County Council to address that,” he said.