Open the remaining waste recycling centres
SCRUTINY COUNCILLORS are recommending their authority’s Cabinet agrees to re-open two waste recycling centres after receiving representations from around 4,500 people protesting continued closure at an emotional meeting.
Calderdale Council’s sites at Elland and Sowerby Bridge were closed when COVID-19 lockdown was imposed at the start of the pandemic and unlike three others at Halifax, Brighouse and Todmorden have not re-opened since.
Critics at the, at times, angry meeting said this has led to increased fly-tipping, an increase in vermin from uncollected waste and round trips of up to two hours as queues grow at the tips which are open, bringing an environmental cost.
Rishworth resident Mel Stead, said: “We’re talking about children trying to play in a garden where there is now rats.”
Calderdale Council’s Place Scrutiny Board agreed to recommend to Cabinet it re-opens the centres, exploring whether social distancing guidance can allow for more people to use centres and explore other ways to improve the service, and is also urging full council to recommend the same when it meets early in September.
Board Chair Coun George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said many residents were concerned the tips would never re-open.
Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said she had heard some “extraordinary rumours” about the sites but all council services which were not statutory could not be guaranteed given the tough financial position the council was in, with a Government
funding review not due until the autumn.
Resident Samantha Gill presented the 1,886 signature Elland petition and said the ongoing closure was an issue many local people felt passionately about.
Co-presenting the 2,366 signature petition concerning both
Elland and Sowerby Bridge, with Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland), Coun Rob Holden (Ind, Ryburn) said the situation was causing “unbelievable” damage to the environment.
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