Thousands sign petition calling for remaining Calderdale waste centres to re-open

Ryburn Coun Rob Holden (Ind) presented the 2,366 signature petition to Calderdale Council’s Cabinet when it met in virtual form.

The recycling stations in Sowerby Bridge and Elland have remained closed since initial lockdown and Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said it was also an issue he wanted to raise.

Centres at Halifax, Todmorden and Brighouse have re-opened.

Coun Holden said while the two waste recycling stations had been closed fly-tipping had vastly increased.

He and Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) had been provided with statistics which if overlayed on the increase in fly-tipping on their wards showed a distinct correlation.

Leader of the Council Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) had said previously said the stations being closed did not excuse fly-tipping but these did not stop it either.

Residents in those areas were faced with, when the queueing and disposing of their waste was taken into account, a three hour round trip to either Halifax, Brighouse or Todmorden.

Often there was a member of staff “manning the gate to stop people fly-tipping outside the gates.

“Get a couple more people on, get them open and let’s get things moving,” said Coun Holden.

He expected contractors Suez to step up and opening the centres would ease the burden on the kerbside collecting teams.

“I think we are being penny wise and pound foolish at the moment.

“The cost of clearing fly-tipping must be astronomical,” said Coun Holden.

Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden), Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, said the number of signatures made it clear there was a lot of concern about the issue.

The issue should be discussed by the council’s Place Scrutiny Board on August 19, she said.

“Hopefully that will give us a proper opportunity to have areally good look at issues around this in depth,” said Coun Press.

Bulky waste collections were being resumed and it was hoped the remote services collection would soon be weekly again, she said.

Coun Blagbrough said Sowerby Bridge and Elland centres remaining closed impacted on Brighouse, for example.

“I understand why the initial decision was taken, but what plans are in place to re-open these as a matter of urgency?” he said.