TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington will have to look again at their controversial decision to close the Sandy Lane recycling centre at Stockton Heath.
Members of the borough council’s executive board have been told to reconsider the decision following a “call in” by Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Walker.
A special meeting of the council’s scrutiny committee attended by six Labour and two Liberal Democrat councillors decided the executive board should look again at the decision and demonstrate that their decision was taken correctly.
The closure threat arose from the decision to award a contract to manage recycling centres to the only company that submitted a bid.
This would have resulted in Sandy Lane being closed and reduced opening hours at the other two recycling centres at Gatewarth and Woolston.
Members of the scrutiny committee decided the executive needed to think again on four of six reasons for the “call in” Cllr Walker had put forward
There had been no consultation with ward councillors, parish councils, resident groups and citizens and a lack of openness on the decision which had been “kept secret” since February.
There was also a shortage of financial information about the costs and revenues involved and it was not clear if other options had been considered.
Cllr Walker (pictured) said: “The Town Hall was packed with local residents. I am very grateful to them for turning up in force to show the strength of feeling about the closure.
“The executive board will now have to reconsider its decision at its next meeting on July 14.
“We really hope they will listen to the scrutiny committee’s findings and accept the proposal for a six week consultation and develop a new proposal which takes into account local residents’ concerns and needs.
“We understand that savings have to be made but we hope the consultation, if it goes ahead, will generate more creative ways of making them without the total closure of the Sandy Lane site.”
The scrutiny committee has now power to force the executive board to change its decision – it can only ask them to look at it again.
Council chiefs told to think again about tip closure plan
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Gary Skentelbery
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.
