Farron questions waste management cutbacks in Parliament

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has tabled a motion in Parliament calling on Cumbria Waste Management, a company owned by Cumbria County Council, to reconsider its decision to make major reductions in operating hours at a number of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) across the county. The Conservative/Labour pact that runs Cumbria County Council has been accused of making an attack on Cumbrian families who are keen to recycle.

Foremost among Tim's concerns was the likelihood of 25 local waste management workers seeing their jobs axed under the plans, which include a74% reduction in operating hours at the HWRC at Ambleside, a 37% reduction at the centre at Canal Head in Kendal and a reduction of 42% at Grange-over-Sands. In contrast, the Lib Dem run South Lakeland council have doubled doorstep recycling and have just launched pilot doorstep collections of plastic and cardboard.

Tim also warned of a severe drop in recycling across the county, coupled with an increase in fly-tipping, both of which would significantly damage the local environment.

Commenting, Tim said: "The effects of this decision on our local communities will be severe, above all in terms of the 25 waste management workers who stand to lose their jobs. I am deeply worried by these plans and hope Cumbria County Council will reconsider in order to find a solution that protects local jobs and the environment.

"If they simply press ahead I fear we will not only see 25 people out of work through no fault of their own but an increase in fly-tipping ruining our countryside. Whatever the County Council saves from these cuts, it will end up losing more because they will incur more landfill taxes as their recycling levels are bound to fall