Heywood tip will close

Peel Lane tip in Heywood will close, as part of cost cutting measures being carried out by the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA).

The authority met on Friday (17 June) following consultation with Councils about its plans. It was decided that six sites would close, including Heywood.

Recycling centres in Shaw, Prestwich, Salford and Bolton will also close.

Heywood Councillor Peter Rush said the decision has left him “angry and dismayed.”

Councillor Rush presented a petition with over 700 signatures to GMWDA.

He said: “I am angry that the authority has totally ignored the wishes of Heywood residents. This decision has been taken simply on cost cutting grounds with absolutely no concern for Heywood.

“I am dismayed that they can close a site that is, by the waste authority's own figures, proving to be a success." 

Councillor Rush added: "Councils across the country are being told to improve their green credentials and make recycling a priority.

“The people of Heywood have shown their willingness to do so and yet the Waste Authority have now chosen to make this much more difficult for them to continue.

“Recycling is not my only concern though, following this disgraceful decision my real worry is that we will now see an increase in fly tipping and this won't just be a problem we face here in Heywood as Peel Lane doesn't just service our Town, the tip is used by residents of Castleton, Norden and Bamford. These areas too will see fly tipping increase as a result of this vote. I will, therefore, be asking what additional resources Rochdale MBC are going to provide to counter the inevitable problems we are sure to face locally."

A statement from GMWDA reads: “During this process GMWDA has liaised with each of the local authorities.

“Within each local area where a site is to be closed, alternative facilities are available either directly from the local Council at the kerbside, or through local bring sites.

“In most cases there are brand new super sites which can accept up to 23 different types of materials for recycling which are within a short distance from older sites that due to their limited size, have received little or no development.

“If the Authority continued to operate these sites as per the current arrangements the required level of budgetary savings would not be delivered and therefore savings would have to be made from elsewhere. As already identified the ability to do this is constrained given the reductions in controllable costs already made. Viridor has committed to redeploy personnel and do not envisage any redundancy.”

Councillor Neil Swannick, Chairman of GMWDA, said: “The Authority does not want to close any sites, but unfortunately financial savings of this significance could not be achieved in other areas without affecting the level of service provided to council tax payers across Greater Manchester. Residents will have kerbside collections and recycling Centres available to them within their district which will allow them to continue recycling”.