Waste dumps ‘need to reopen’
Household waste dumps must reopen in Renfrewshire to stop fly-tipping in beauty spots, a councillor has insisted.
Alistair Mackay has called on council bosses to consider allowing families into recycling centres in Paisley and Linwood while applying strict social distancing rules.
His plea follows the local authority’s move to close all five waste recycling centres as part of restrictions to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
However, it has led to multiple complaints of illegally- dumped waste across Renfreshire.
Council chiefs yesterday asked for patience as they follow Scottish Government guidelines.
Mr Mackay, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “There are increasing amounts of flytipping taking place.
“I think in the short- to-medium term, opening the sites wouldn’t increase the car flow much more than it’s increasing already at the moment.”
Tips should reopen in Paisley and Linwood to combat a reported increase in fly-tipping, a councillor has insisted.
All five of Renfrewshire Council’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) have been shut during the lockdown period as part of a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.
But as residents continue to raise concerns about a hike in illegal dumping, pressure is growing on council chiefs to reopen at least some of the sites.
Johnstone South and Elderslie representative Alistair Mackay was the latest to call for HWRCs at Underwood Road in Paisley and Middleton Road in Linwood to be reopened at a meeting of the emergencies board.
Initially, efforts were made to try and keep these two tips open, but as social distancing became a struggle, bosses were forced to close them.
However, Councillor Mackay said he believes it would be practically possible to let people use these sites while keeping to Covid-19 guidelines.
He told the emergencies board: “I have been contacted by a number of people who are saying while the amenity sites remain closed, people are using their cars to fly-tip.
“There are increasing amounts of fly-tipping taking place. Also, I received a number of suggestions that maybe communities could hire skips to provide a depository for the rubbish. However, that would cause trouble as you would always have opportunists who throw their rubbish in the skip.
“I know part of the issue is social distancing at amenity sites. The amenity site at Underwood Road and the one at Linwood actually would lend themselves quite well to social distancing.
“Could consideration be given to opening the more appropriate amenity sites in the near future to prevent the build- up of rubbish?
“I think in the short to medium term, going forward, opening the sites wouldn’t increase the car flow much more than it’s increasing already at the moment.”
Council bosses are, however, standing firm and keeping the sites shut for the foreseeable.
But environment and infrastructure director Gordon McNeil insisted discussions were ongoing about how amenity sites could be opened again safely.
“Our position remains the same and it’s still very much a national position that amenity sites remain closed,” Mr McNeil told emergencies board members.
“There continues to be dialogue on a weekly basis with the Convention for Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Government. It’s recognised this is a valued service in all communities and I am sure amenity sites will come into talks about any relaxation of lockdown procedures.
“The social distancing measures which are in place just now are going to remain in place for a number of months and we will have to ensure the way we deliver operations maintains those physical distances.”
The amenity sites at Underwood Road and Linwood actually lend themselves quite well to social distancing