Petition launched to get Congleton a new recycling centre

By Alex Greensmith 24th Aug 2022

The public have decided to take the matters of a replacement recycling centre for Congleton into their own hands.

Congleton Climate Action Group - just weeks before their annual festival - have launched a petition to get a new waste management site for Congleton..

The petition, which went live earlier today, was started in association with Congleton Town Councillor Robert Douglas, who has invested hours into questioning the methods in how Cheshire East Council could implement a replacement site.

"Cllr Robert Douglas is leading a much needed campaign to get Congleton a new site," said campaigners.

Liberal Democrat Congleton Town Councillor Robert Douglas had previously presented to the public options that Cheshire East Council could adopt.

"Congleton Climate Action Group are proud to support this campaign. But your help is needed.

"Cheshire East Council's Cabinet decided on May 4 2021 NOT to replace the Congleton recycling site [formerly Off Barn Road].

"Since then additional homes have been built and continue to be built which will year on year increase the demand fora recycling centre in the Congleton area.

"Closure particularly impacts on the elderly, the less mobile and those suffering from health issues, those without cars, those caring for elderly and vulnerable groups and those with dependents.

"Cheshire East Council's Environment Appraisal of closure of Congleton HWRC dated March 2021 on page 23 estimates that the closure of Congleton HWRC would result in a net CO2 increase of 158.8 tonnes per year

"Please help and sign our petition and help as many people as you can."

The online petition currently has 22 signatures, and can be signed here.

The news comes as next month marks a full year since Congleton tip closed.

Cheshire East Leader Cllr Sam Corcoran has been contacted for comment.

The petition's launch came in conjunction with an open letter to Cheshire East's Leader Sam Corcoran.

An except from the letter reads as follows:

"Closure particularly impacts on the elderly, the less mobile and those suffering from health issues, those without cars, those caring for elderly and vulnerable groups and those with dependents.

"Ever rising fuel costs are making the financial impact of the loss of our local recycling site on the poorest in our community even worse.

Congleton Household Waste Recycling Centre closed to the public at 5pm on Sunday, 5 September 2021.

"Residents are openly admitting in face-to-face contact and on social media that items that they previously use to take to the recycling site in Congleton are now put into their dark grey domestic bins because alternative recycling sites are too far away.

"Fly-tipping numbers and costs have increased so much recently that Congleton Town Council's officers have notified Cheshire East Council that fly-tipping levels and costs have risen to levels outside the level contracted in its contract with Cheshire East Council.

"As a resident of Congleton, I urge Cheshire East Council to reverse their decsion and give full merit to the campaign being run by Cllr Robert Douglas with the support of the people of Congleton."

Cheshire East Council is located on Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ.

Campaigners will gather outside Cheshire East Council's HQ on September 29 2022 before a meeting at 10:30am to raise awareness for the issue.

Cheshire East Council were contacted for comment.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "In May last year, councillors agreed to recommendations to procure a new contract for the running of the borough's household waste recycling centres from 2023.

"Following market engagement, consultation and procurement exercises, a report on the cost and the range of services of the new Household Waste Recycling Centre contract is due to be presented to the council's environment and communities committee next month."