GREEN Party leaders in Warrington are calling for the re-opening of Stockton Heath Community Recycling Centre as part of the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Recycling centres at Gatewarth and Woolston have re-opened, but the centre in Sandy Lane, Stockton Heath remains closed.
All three of Warrington’s recycling centres were closed at the start of the lockdown but despite the easing of restrictions at the weekend which saw pubs, cafes and hairdressers allowed to re-open, the Stockton Heath tip remains closed.
Lyndsay McAteer, Green Party candidate for Stockton Heath in next year’s borough council elections said: “The Sandy Lane recycling centre was part of a council review in 2018 which recommended that it stay open until another more suitable site in South Warrington is found.
Two other recycling depots have opened up recently in Woolston and Sankey.
Ms McAteer said: “Clearly, the situation is of no help to people in Stockton Heath and nearby. I wrote to Russ Bowden, leader of the borough council, to get some clarity about the CRC. It’s almost as if my correspondence is being ignored. I have sent reminder emails at regular intervals. Driving to other areas in the town to use CRCs means more car journeys; more emissions; and more air pollution.
“Everyone understands the need for caution when re-opening facilities such as these. A traffic plan and robust health and safety restrictions would certainly be needed. In Woolston and Gateworth this work has already been done. The public in Stockton Heath want their tip back and there is a wall of silence from Warrington Borough Council.”
Ms McAteer said: “Warrington and Halton Green Party want recycling rates to rise significantly across Warrington. Currently, our town’s recycling rate is just 42.8 per cent, falling well short of the Government target of 50 per cent. We need to safely open all of the recycling facilities and conduct a recycling plan for the future.”
A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: “Stockton Heath CRC remains closed, but we’re keeping this under constant review and are working hard to reopen it.”
Lyndsay McAteer
