Ambleside residents protest over plans to close recycling centre (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Ambleside residents protest over plans to close recycling centre
6:50pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News
Fly-tipping could increase if recycling centres in South Lakeland and Eden are closed, protestors claim.
Around 150 people turned out for a public meeting at Ambleside’s household waste recycling centre to oppose Cumbria County Council plans to close six sites in the county.
Under the proposals, Ambleside, Kirkby Stephen and Grange would be shut in a bid to cut costs.
But resident Bev Dennison said: “We fought for years to improve facilities at this site.
“Now we have got them, they want to close it if they get their way. The closure of this centre will mean everybody facing a round trip of 30 to 40 miles to the nearest site at Kendal. At a time when authorities are trying to reduce people’s carbon footprints, it is just absolute madness. Perhaps the site needs a haircut in terms of its opening hours – that would make more sense.”
Elwyn Bradshaw, chairman of Lakes Parish Council, urged people to comment on the online consultation.
Windermere county councillor Jo Stephenson said: “We know times are hard but this is the wrong place to make cuts. We have done such a lot of work to encourage people to recycle and regenerate as much as possible, so it would be a terrible step back.”
Fellow county councillor David Earnshaw added: “This site at Ambleside is so valuable. It is unthinkable that it should close.”
Coun Tim Knowles, cabinet member for environment, said no decision had been made, adding: “The consultation has already produced some interesting ideas, such as looking into the viability of community-run centres or getting trade operators to run some sites on our behalf. As long as we deliver the necessary savings, and our HWRCs can operate safely and effectively, then I’m more than happy to consider any alternatives to outright closure.
“But waste is an area where we are relatively inefficient at the moment, so it is an area where we have to make savings.”
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Comments(5)
Lakeuk
says...
11:40pm Wed 8 Feb 12
A mobile service sounds like a good idea but what made them propose just 4 visits per year, I think at the very least it should be tried with a monthly service and then decided which months get used most, this may result in more than one visit during certain months
FrontalLobe
says...
7:06pm Thu 9 Feb 12
We all know there is a dire need to save money and hard choices have to be made. The problem I have is a lack of trust in C.C.C.
FrontalLobe
says...
7:16pm Thu 9 Feb 12
I realise that Proposal Two does ask whether you would use a mobile service or prefer to use the next nearest permanent site. However there is no space to say that you want to keep your own site. Proposal Three asks about days and hours of opening but this is a general revision and does NOT invite you to say you want to keep your present facility. Whatever comments you make in the boxes at the bottom will not of course be what C.C.C. quotes. They have given themselves the opportunity to use totals from what I believe are answers to loaded questions.
Moonbase
says...
9:24am Fri 10 Feb 12
Perhaps they think they can make some extra cash now you have to pay for your collections from home?
snuggle-bunny says...
11:09pm Wed 8 Feb 12