‘RUBBISH MOVE’
PLANS TO SHUT CITY WASTE TIP ‘WITHIN WEEKS’ BLASTED BY OPPONENTS
RESIDENTS have voiced their anger at news that Cardiff council could close the gates to a city tip within two months.
It is understood the Wedal Road site in Roath will close in October despite huge opposition.
The council says it can’t confirm an exact date, but it is believed officers are looking at an October closure – depending on work being completed to increase capacity at the Lamby Way tip.
Last July, the council said it would close Wedal Road as part of an announcement that said Lamby Way in Rumney and Bessemer Close in Grangetown would be the preferred locations for two “super tips”.
The announcement sparked an angry response from residents and politicians in north Cardiff, who objected to the plans.
Elsewhere in the city, there was a separate appeal to reopen Waungron tip, which was closed in April 2014. But the council instead said it planned for that site to become a bus interchange and link with Waungron Park railway station.
Opponents described the decision to close the Wedal Road facility as “severely detrimental” to north Cardiff. After the October closure date was revealed online yesterday, Pentyrch Bowls Club tweeted: “Bad news indeed Cardiff council. Watch fly-tipping increase & increased traffic problems to Bessemer Close and Lamby Way.”
CardiffGrump added: “Another example of @cardiffcouncil ignoring the wishes of residents”.
Plans for super-tips, earmarked for Lamby Way and Bessemer Close at the expense of Wedal Road, were given cabinet approval. A council scrutiny committee halted those plans in August 2015, saying more detail was needed from the cabinet.
But despite a discussion at a full council meeting for the decision to be reversed, the plan was pushed through.
Environment boss Bob Derbyshire said the site was inefficient and the new recycling centres would benefit residents.
The move came as the council also introduced a requirement for residents to take a proof of address or identity with them to tips in an effort to crackdown on people from outside the city using its tips.
Councillor Jayne Cowan, along with ward councillor Adrian Robson and Cardiff North MP Craig Williams, held public meetings against the plans.
Yesterday, Coun Cowan said: “I feel really aggrieved that the Labour cabinet failed to listen to the people of Cardiff who spoke strongly about the closure of the Wedal Road site.
“This site is well used by residents in Cardiff North and when it is closed in a matter of weeks, will prove hugely problematic.
“Even at this final hour I’m urging Phil Bale’s cabinet to think again and listen to the hundreds and hundreds of people who signed a petition, attended a public meeting and made their views known.”
Lib Dem Gabalfa Councillor Ed Bridges said: “Those of us in the north of the city will lose our local tip, and residents in Gabalfa will be braced for the fly-tipping in our area which will be in the inevitable consequence of this flawed and shortterm decision.”
Coun Derbyshire said: “After extensive consideration and analysis we decided that Bessemer Close in Grangetown and Lamby Way in Rumney should be the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) to remain open, resulting in the closure of Wedal Road.
“This position was confirmed within the 2015-16 Budget Report; however, the precise closure date is yet to be confirmed. Issues such as infrastructure, location and impact on neighbouring residents were all factors that we considered before reaching this decision.
“I know that our decision has been unpopular with residents who regularly use Wedal Road HWRC but I would like to remind them that the additional travel time of travelling the short distance to Lamby Way from Wedal Road has been calculated to take less than 10 minutes.
“Work has already begun on the redevelopment of Lamby Way Recycling Centre following planning approval. The new site will allow a greater volume of traffic on site and more skips to recycle a greater variety of materials. We ask that residents allow greater time for their visit whilst the works take place and consider visiting at off-peak times between Monday and Friday and during the day.”