Pendle Borough Councillor, David Whipp (Lib Dem), has led the call on Lancashire County Council to help fund Waste costs due to be imposed on Pendle when the County Council's disposal contract at Whinney Hill, Accrington, expires in March 2025.
With the County Council's contract with SUEZ due to expire in March 2025, and concerns over the eligibility of Whinney Hill as an ongoing tipping site, LCC has asked all Borough Councils to make their own Waste Transfer provisions, at a cost of potentially millions, without any guaranteed County funding.
Sitting at May's Pendle Borough Council's Executive Council meeting, Cllr D. Whipp said:
"I recommend we make further strong representations at member level with the Leader of the County Council to strongly request that the County Council does not 'cost shunt' and that they support residents in Pendle in funding these changes."
Damon Lawrenson
Damon Lawrenson, Director of Place, clarified that £5m of Capital resources had been estimated for the costs, prior to a report that has now come back with more accurate costings for different options (below).
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| Waste Transfer cost options from 2025 |
The recommendation from the Council administration was to develop the Fleet Street site into a Waste Transfer centre - either solely or with Burnley BC - from which Waste would be collected by the County Council to a tip.
This option would include a significant upfront Capital cost, but would work out cheaper in ongoing costs in the long run.
David Walker
Lancashire County Council had said there would be no funding to assist local Borough Councils, but David Walker (Assistant Director of Operational Services) said LCC have now opened discussions.
Cllr Zafar Ali (Ind) PROPOSES the Pendle Council develop the Fleet Street site with Burnley Council, stating:
"The other options, I think, my view and my assessment is, that they are simply not financially viable. We are stuck in this position given LCC's sort of 'closed shop' approach."
Cllr David Whipp reluctantly SECONDED the motion.
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| The site at Fleet Street |