FAMILIES WOULD FACE DRIVE OF 20 MINUTES IF TOWN TIP SHUTS

Cabinet forced to defer closure decision

THOUSANDS of families could have to travel miles to dispose of their rubbish as their local tip looks set to be axed.

Cheshire East Council is proposing to close the Congleton household waste recycling centre (HWRC), below, when its lease runs out.

Planning permission has already been lodged to transform the site into a Costa Coffee outlet, and the council estimates a new site could cost around £4 million. The decision to close was due to be ratified at this week’s cabinet meeting, but it had to be pulled at the last minute.

Cabinet member for highways, Councillor Laura Crane, said:

“Unfortunately it did come to light late on in the proceedings there was an administrative error in the Cabinet papers.

“I don’t believe there’s anything substantive that would force us to change our decision, but given the importance of the matter I would request that we defer.”

The council said financing a new tip site would cost around £250,000 a year, and would have to be financed by borrowing.

A council report looking into the proposed closure said: “Not replacing the current facility in Congleton would reduce the future running cost of the HWRC service, and so partly mitigate the anticipated increased cost of the new contract.

“Furthermore, it would avoid the cost associated with repaying the capital investment required to deliver a replacement facility at Congleton, which is estimated to be £250,000 per annum.”

Cheshire East says a drop to seven HWRCS across the borough would still leave 96 per cent of residents within a 20-minute drive.

But families in Congleton spoke out against the proposed closure at the cabinet meeting. Kay Wesley, of Congleton, said: “Elderly and disabled residents without transport have to rely on others to take them to the tip, it is much less likely for them to do this with a journey to the next town. They will be disadvantaged by this loss of a service.”