Work to start on recycling centre

WORK to build a third recycling centre for Bristol is finally expected to start later this year.

The long-awaited facility at Hartcliffe Way has been promised by nearly every political party in the city over the years, but its journey has been marred by delays and controversy.

Plans for the new reuse and recycling centre were finally approved in March, despite concerns that it would worsen air pollution for residents living near the site.

Now city mayor Marvin Rees has announced the timeline for the likely construction of the centre in south Bristol.

Mr Rees told members of Bristol City Council that building work was expected to start in autumn and would continue until summer 2022.

“Bristol Waste is in the process of awarding a contract for enabling works which will commence within the next six weeks,” he said in a written reply to a question from an opposition councillor.

“The procurement of the main building contractor will be undertaken in parallel with the enabling works, with the construction phase then expected to commence in autumn of this year and run through to summer 2022.”

The recycling centre was expected to open in 2021.

The existing street cleansing depot at the site must be relocated, and there will be a new traffic light junction in Hartcliffe Way.

Back in December it was revealed that the price of building the new recycling centre had rocketed from £4million to £7million, and that an extra £1million to £4million on top of that was needed to relocate the highways depot.

Bristol Waste, which will lease and operate the site, will provide £1million towards the extra cost of the centre.