MP celebrates news that recycling plan has been binned
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed news that Cumbria County Council has agreed with him and saved Cumbria's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). Tim has thanked local residents for their support in the campaign to save the centres.
The sites at Kirkby Stephen, Millom, Ambleside, Grange-over-Sands, Wigton andBramptonwere previously under threat as the council aimed to save over £2 million a year.
Cumbria County Council, run by a Conservative-Labour alliance, launched a consultation earlier this year to close six HWRC's across the county. Over 2,000 local residents responded to the consultation about the future of the HWRC's. Ambleside councillor Heidi Halliday launched a petition opposing the plans in conjunction with Lakes Parish Council, whilst County Councillor Peter Thornton worked with Kirkby Stephen Town Council to save their HWRC.
The closure plans have faced an angry barrage of criticism from local residents, who believed that it will lead to an increase in fly tipping, especially in the National Park. The council has agreed today to drop the proposed closures and reduce opening hours instead.
Most of the larger sites open between 8am and 6pm daily. Under the new plan, those atCarlisle, Flusco (Penrith), Barrow and Kendal would close on Thursdays and Fridays, as would Workington and Frizington - soon to be replaced by a new site at Lillyhall. All would shut at 4pm in winter when they are less busy.
Tim said: "This is fantastic news and yet another fantastic community campaign. Together we have made the county council see sense and save the recycling centres. The closure plan is the only thing getting recycled and that is great! I think it shows what we can achieve together - we really can make the difference. I want to thank local parish councils in Windermere, The Lakes and Kirkby Stephen - their help and support was invaluable. I also want to pay a special tribute to councillors like Heidi Halliday, David Earnshaw, Vivienne Rees and Peter Thornton. Today's victory is down to their fantastic work and determination. Without them I don't think we would have the result we have today."
County Councillor Peter Thornton added: "I'm really pleased that Cabinet has listened to me and the other County Councillors who told them that these closures were unacceptable. But it's the community response which has had the real impact, especially the petition from Kirkby Stephen. I now call upon the County Council to commit to working much closer with the District Councils in order that we can have a properly integrated, efficient and economical waste collection and disposal service across the whole of Cumbria. We must do better than to have this type of kneejerk reaction in response to the need for budget economies. A Council that fails to properly plan, is a Council that's planning to fail!"