Last night the MSDC Scrutiny Committee led by Lib Dem Martin Redbond took Lisa Chambers to task for her plan to close the HWRCs at Broom and Bramford. She explained the process that led to the need for closure and the selection of the sites to be closed.
Closure was necessary to cope with reductions in government grant and the choice of sites depended on re-cycling rates, number of visits, distance to alternative sites and the extent to which they were used by people from neighbouring counties. Just how Bramford rates badly on these criteria is difficult to see. Our nearest alternative is in the middle of Ipswich and is already overcrowded.
Lisa suggested that Mid Suffolk was not offering alternative community approaches to the need to re-cycle and dispose of waste and she clearly does not believe that the proposed commercial solution at Bramford is viable. There are other possibilities that we must investigate before the proposed closure on July 31st.
Realistic solutions would include improved community collection sites at local centres like that at Needham Market and at the Loraine Victory Hall. Officers proposed that alterations to the re-cycling credits the County gives district councils to favour the Mid Suffolk practice of a paid for green waste bin for those that can’t compost at home. This could easily release sufficient money to keep all HWRC’s open.
Apparently the government is writing to councils pointing out that it is not legal to charge at HWRC sites.
