Recycling site stays shut after fire

RECYCLING centres across Somerset will expand their opening hours following a fire which ripped through the Taunton site.

Taunton Recycling Centre will be closed for the “foreseeable future” after a fire ravaged the neighbouring material recovery facility early on October 3.

The structure, located next to the household recycling site in Priorswood, has been deemed “structurally unsafe” by the fire service. Specialist engineers are expected to assess the building early next week once it is safe to gain entry.

Now, Somerset Council has agreed to increase opening hours at neighbouring sites.

The facility at Wellington is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but will now open Monday to Sunday. Bridgwater usually closes on Wednesdays but will also open seven days next week.

A Somerset Council spokesman said that the cause of the blaze is still not known and residents are urged to stay away from the site.

It averages around 700 visitors a day and residents who would usually use it are asked to hold on to their recycling or put it out with kerbside recycling if appropriate.

Somerset Council has 16 recycling sites across the county which are managed by Biffa. Staff from Taunton have been redeployed to provide the extra hours in Wellington and Bridgwater.

Somerset Council lead member for climate and environment Councillor Dixie Darch said: “This is big disruption for a lot of people. We apologise for that but hope everyone understands why it’s just not possible to reopen the site at this stage.”