LAWS SLAMS PROPOSED CLOSURE OF CREWKERNE RECYCLING CENTRE

 

 

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has criticised the decision by Somerset County Council to close the household waste recycling centre at Blacknell Lane, Crewkerne.

 

The recycling centre was in the top three for efficiency last year, with a recycle rate of 83% achieved in June 2010. However, it is planned to be one of the first recycling centres to be closed as part of Somerset County Council’s drive to cut costs.

 

 

David Laws MP said:

 

“I am very concerned about plans by Somerset County Council to close the recycling centre in Crewkerne. This means that the nearest recycling centre for Crewkerne residents will be in either Chard or Yeovil- a journey of at least 15 miles as a round trip!

 

“I fear that this will deter local residents from recycling and we will be forced to make increased use of local landfill sites instead. This would be a huge step back in promoting recycling in our area and will actually increase costs for the Council in the long-run, as they will have to pay more in landfill taxes. I am also particularly worried that losing this centre will lead to an increase in fly-tipping around Crewkerne.

 

“I have raised my concerns with Ken Maddock, the Conservative Leader of Somerset County Council, and will be campaigning for this decision to be reversed. While there is a need to cut costs in these difficult economic times, this particular decision is ill-thought out and could have damaging consequences for the future.

 

“Local people have really played their part in protecting the environment and taking on recycling in recent years. It would be hugely detrimental to see all that hard work destroyed by such a short-sighted decision.”

 

ENDS.

Category: MP Campaigns