Protesters call for tip to stay open

DOZENS of campaigners turned out to protest against the closure of a Cardiff waste and recycling centre on Saturday.

The site in Wedal Road is set to close on Friday, despite previous indications from Labour-run Cardiff council that it would remain open until a replacement was found for residents living in the north of the city.

Protesters crammed onto the pavement outside the tip as drivers honked their horns in support.

Eileen Humphries, who has lived with her husband Colin in Allensbank Road, Heath, for 42 years, was one of the demonstrators who braved freezing conditions to make their feelings known.

“This has been an important part of being able to keep refuse down,” retired teacher Eileen said.

“We have seen fly-tipping already and it is only going to get worse.

“The council has reduced the size of the black bins and they only collect every fortnight.”

Once the tip closes there will be two sites left in the city, one in Bessemer Road and the other in Lamby Way, Rumney.

“We do our best with the recycling but there are always things that won’t recycle,” Eileen said.

“We find ourselves coming down here probably once a week.”

Store assistant Hev Ward lives in Caerphilly Road, Heath.

“I want it to stay open because it’s local – otherwise I would have to go to Lamby Way,” the 39-year-old store assistant said.

“And I worry that it will lead to flytipping. It would take about half an hour to get to Lamby Way. There would be more congestion because more people would be using it.”

Leader of the Tory opposition on the council Adrian Robson branded the plans to close it “disgraceful”.

“There is no other site identified or up and running that we are aware of yet this is going to shut down on Friday, March 2.” It was a “well-used site” he said. Clive Mann said he brings refuse to the site from his Llanishen allotment.

“You could not store compost waste there because people would put the wrong stuff in so I would bring it back here,” he said.

On Friday it emerged the tip had been pulled from auction after Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) stepped in with an offer.

It is not known what the health board intends to develop on the site.

A council spokeswoman said: “The UHB is already acquiring a neighbouring site to the Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC).

“This decision will not affect the closure date of Wedal Road HWRC.”

Previously, Cardiff council’s clean streets cabinet member Michael Michael, said: “Wedal Road is not fit for purpose. It is too small and there are a limited number of skips.”