County council pulls back slightly on one of its cuts
Wednesday, 13th April 2011.
Suffolk County Council has today announced that, following feedback from Suffolk residents, the planned closure of six of the county’s household waste recycling centres in May 2011 will be delayed.
The centres will now remain open until July 31 – during which time the council will be working with the district and borough councils as its partners, and Suffolk communities to develop long-term solutions to the closures.
Following the announcement to close the sites, Suffolk County Council received 8,000 letters and opinions from Suffolk residents, district and parish councils giving their views on the proposals, and 2,000 people have attended public meetings.
Today’s announcement is intended as a direct response to those views.
Options suggested by Suffolk residents included:
· Pay-per-use
· District/parish council funding for sites
· Local recycling projects.
Cllr Lisa Chambers, the council's portfolio holder for waste, said: “We have made this decision in direct response to the views of Suffolk residents.
"I have personally attended 14 community meetings and the feedback has been very clear. People are telling me they are very willing to look at paying for the service rather than lose their site and would like more time to come up with new ways of working.
"District, parish and town councils have also asked for more time to look at alternative funding opportunities.
“I believe it is important that we listen to feedback from communities and when possible act on that feedback. In this case that is what we have done.”
Haverhill's waste tip in Coupals Road is not one of those due to be closed.
The centres will now remain open until July 31 – during which time the council will be working with the district and borough councils as its partners, and Suffolk communities to develop long-term solutions to the closures.
Following the announcement to close the sites, Suffolk County Council received 8,000 letters and opinions from Suffolk residents, district and parish councils giving their views on the proposals, and 2,000 people have attended public meetings.
Today’s announcement is intended as a direct response to those views.
Options suggested by Suffolk residents included:
· Pay-per-use
· District/parish council funding for sites
· Local recycling projects.
Cllr Lisa Chambers, the council's portfolio holder for waste, said: “We have made this decision in direct response to the views of Suffolk residents.
"I have personally attended 14 community meetings and the feedback has been very clear. People are telling me they are very willing to look at paying for the service rather than lose their site and would like more time to come up with new ways of working.
"District, parish and town councils have also asked for more time to look at alternative funding opportunities.
“I believe it is important that we listen to feedback from communities and when possible act on that feedback. In this case that is what we have done.”
Haverhill's waste tip in Coupals Road is not one of those due to be closed.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)