Open the tips to stop litter louts

A PETITION urging waste recycling stations in two Calderdale towns to be re-opened has been signed by more than 2,000 people.

Ryburn councillor Rob Holden (Ind) presented the 2,366 signature petition to Calderdale Council’s Cabinet when it met in virtual form.

The recycling stations in Sowerby Bridge and Elland have remained closed since initial lockdown and Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said it was also an issue he wanted to raise.

Centres at Halifax, Todmorden and Brighouse have reopened.

Coun Holden said while the two waste recycling stations had been closed fly-tipping had vastly increased.

He and Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) had been provided with statistics which if overlayed on the increase in fly-tipping on their wards showed a distinct correlation.

Residents in those areas were faced with, when the queueing and disposing of their waste was taken into account, a three hour round trip to either Halifax, Brighouse or Todmorden.

Often there was a member of staff “manning the gate to stop people fly-tipping outside the gates.

“Get a couple more people on, get them open and let’s get things moving,” said Coun Holden.

He expected contractors Suez to step up and opening the centres would ease the burden on the kerbside collecting teams.

“The cost of clearing fly-tipping must be astronomical,” said Coun Holden.

Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden), Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, said the number of signatures made it clear there was a lot of concern about the issue.

The issue should be discussed by the council’s Place Scrutiny Board on August 19, she said.

Get a couple more people on, get them open and let’s get things moving