Two south Warwickshire tips will remain closed for the foreseeable future

Two south Warwickshire tips will remain closed for the foreseeable future due to concerns over staff and visitor safety.

While many others have re-opened, the tips at Stockton and Wellesbourne have not and that has caused problems for residents and increased the number of fly-tipping incidents according to Cllr Nigel Rock (Lib Dem, Napton and Fenny Compton).

His written question at this week’s [MON] full council meeting of Stratford District Council asked that pressure be put on Warwickshire County Council to re-open the sites.

He said: “The Stockton and Wellesbourne recycling centres have been closed since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis.

"This has caused significant inconvenience to residents in the rural areas, particularly those in the east of the district where the nearest open centres are Rugby or Leamington.

“I am finding increased incidences of fly tipping in my locality. I recognise the need for these smaller sites to plan for Covid-19 security and capacity, but local recycling facilities are needed.”

The operations portfolio holder, Cllr Ian Shenton (Con, Wootton Wawen), said talks had taken place between the two authorities.

He explained: “The two household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) are small sites and WCC are not confident that they can reopen them within the restraints of Covid-19 safe requirements.

“Whilst there has been some evidence of increased fly tipping during Covid-19 it is difficult to relate this directly to the closure of HWRCs, generally it is found that the people that fly tip will fly tip, regardless of what other options exist.”

A county council spokesman added: “We have no immediate plans to reopen Wellesbourne or Stockton. Both sites are very small and present real challenges to reopening whilst protecting the safety of visitors and site staff.

“We are working with our reuse partner, AGE UK, to reopen more reuse shops and there is a possibility that this may include one of the closed sites as a reuse only facility. News on changes to the recycling centres including further service improvements will be announced in due course.”