Somerset Council will not be closing Cheddar Recycling Centre in the immediate future, despite earlier suggestions that it might.
The Executive Member for Transport and Waste confirmed in a meeting today that, in all likelihood, the site will be funded in the next council budget, due in February.
Local campaigner Graham Godwin-Pearson asked a direct question of the Executive Committee at a meeting today in Taunton, asking "whether or not the council intends to close Cheddar Recycling Centre, and if so when this is likely to happen?"
Cllr Richard Wilkins replied: "If any closure is proposed, it will go through a full public consultation before any decision is taken.
"For the avoidance of doubt, no decision has yet been made to close Cheddar Recycling Centre."
Speaking afterwards, Graham, who was previously the Sedgemoor District Councillor for Axevale, said, "I am delighted that Cheddar Recycling Centre will be spared from Somerset Council's chopping board. While not perfect, it's a valuable resource for a wide constituency of people in Cheddar, Axbridge, Shipham and the surrounding villages.
"Without the facility, people would be driving to Highbridge or elsewhere with their recycling, adding unnecessary miles and the associated carbon footprint. In addition, history shows us that when councils like Somerset close recycling centres, fly-tipping increases and tonne for tonne, waste that has been fly-tipped is considerably more expensive to dispose of."
More information here: Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News
