Tip closure plan under scrutiny

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THE controversial decision by Warrington Borough Council to close the Sandy Lane recycling centre and tip at Stockton Heath, will be under scrutiny at Warrington town hall tonight (Thursday).
Angry Lib Dem councillors have “called in” the Executive Boards decision to close the centre on August 1 and are urging members of the public to turn out in force at the open meeting, which starts at 6.30pm.
They will have just 30 minutes to put their case to have the decision changed.
The Lib Dem councillors who represent the area, claim the decision was “hidden” on the agenda of the borough council’s executive board on June 10 – and have asked that it be “called in” for further consideration by the council’s scrutiny committee.
Cllr Peter Walker, of Appleton (pictured), has previously listed six reasons why the decision should be called in.
He said: “This decision must have been made before February but it has been kept secret until now. There has been no consultation with residents, parish councils, local groups or councillors in South Warrington or, as far as I know, elsewhere in the town.
“The additional proposal to ‘compensate’ South Warrington by installing unsupervised ‘Bring Banks’ is also very worrying and needs proper discussion.”
A proposal to close the Sandy Lane centre in 2010 was rejected by the then Lib Dem led administration after open and thorough consultation.
Cllr Walker says the decision was not taken in accordance with the principles of decision making as laid down in the council’s constitution.
It was disproportionate to the desired outcome because of the effect it would have on the south of the borough compared to the north.
There had also been a lack of consultation and incomplete information on the reasons for the decision and “secrecy” since at least February.
When the tendering process commenced there was presumably a presumption that no centres would close – yet the outcome resulted in a closure.
No account had been taken of the cost of the promised additional ‘bring bank’ facility as compensation for the Stockton Heath closure nor of the financial or environmental impact of extra traffic and fly tipping.
Pictured above: The Sandy Lane tip at Stockton Heath.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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