Tipped for closure
CAMPAIGNERS who thought they had successfully fought against a recycling centre’s closure have been told it is set to shut in 2012.
Hundreds of people protested against plans to close Fiskerton Household Waste And Recycling Centre in 2007.
Nottinghamshire County Council this week issued a statement saying the facility on Fiskerton Road will close if a new centre opens in Newark.
Campaigners thought the facility would be part of a county-wide review of services in 2012. However, a council spokesman said it had always been the intention to close Fiskerton tip.
The local member, Mr Bruce Laughton, said: “They haven’t made that clear to me.
“All I know is that it had an extension of the licence for five years and that we would be able to go for another extension.
“We will fight it like we did last time and we will win. It is a highly used facility within the community and it deserves to remain open.
“There were 5,500 signatures to the last petition, one of the largest petitions that the county council has ever had.”
Mr Laughton raised the issue at a council meeting yesterday and said a cabinet member also seemed to be unaware of the closure.
He said Mr Chris Baron, the cabinet member for environment and sustainability, told the meeting that he was not aware of the statement or of the closure plans.
The Liberal Democrats in Southwell will be in the Market Place this weekend collecting signatures for a petition.
Mr Peter Harris, said: “I am appalled that the county council is trying to close the recycling centre again.
“There was huge opposition to the proposed closure last time. Now it seems that the council is tearing up the promises that it has made.
“Closing the centre will mean less chance of recycling from local houses, longer journeys for those prepared to recycle and more and more fly tipping from those that cannot dispose of household waste properly”
Mr and Mrs John Rushby of Leeway Road, Southwell, signed the petition in 2007.
Mrs Delia Rushby (61) said she would be willing to fight to keep the tip open beyond 2012.
She said: “People desperately need it. Southwell is supposed to be getting bigger, meaning more people would be using it.”
Mr Rushby (67) said the centre offered a vital service and was worried its closure could lead to more fly-tipping.
A council spokesman said: “The Fiskerton household waste recycling centre site is due for closure in 2012 as it is an area that is planned to be restored to countryside, together with the adjacent landfill site.”
He said planning permission required that the landfill site be restored to agriculture, nature conservation and woodland, which did not allow for the recycling centre to stay open.
