\n Communities in the north of Wiltshire are urging Wiltshire Council to do a deal with Swindon Borough Council to tackle the issue head-on.\n<\/p>\n
\n Households in Cricklade, north of Swindon, along with Purton and Royal Wootton Bassett, which are to the west of the town, rely on the household recycling centre at Purton.\n<\/p>\n
\n Last week (December 5) Wiltshire Council revealed its plans to close recycling centres at Purton and at Lower Compton, near Calne.\n<\/p>\n
\n They promised to consult the public on the plans – but by the time the council’s Liberal Democrat-led Cabinet met on Tuesday, December 9 to discuss the plans a vote was being taken on leaving the sites by the end of July next year.\n<\/p>\n
\n The council said people from the north of the county would be able to use recycling centres at Marlborough (a 40-mile round trip from Cricklade) or Stanton St Quintin (a 38-mile round trip from Purton).\n<\/p>\n
\n The meeting heard that renewing a contract with Swindon-headquartered Hills Waste Services – which owns the two sites – would be “unsustainable”.\n<\/p>\n
\n Wiltshire Council wants to exit to current contract when it expires at the end of July 2026 and build a new facility in the north of the county – although that is not expected to be operational until the end of 2028.\n<\/p>\n
\n Wiltshire councillor Nick Dye (Cricklade & Latton, Liberal Democrat) asked cabinet members: “Can my colleague Cllr Andrew Matthews (Royal Wootton Bassett East, Liberal Democrat) and I ask you to ensure that residents are provided with continuity in household recycling services?\n<\/p>\n
\n “We’re looking for dialogue for reciprocal arrangements with surrounding authorities and temporary provision to be fully in place before any closure takes place.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Cllr Paul Sample, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, responded: “I know that the change that we’re going to go through is definitely going to impact significant numbers of people.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Can I provide you with a guarantee that there will be an HRC centre in the north of Wiltshire? The answer is yes, I can.\n<\/p>\n
\n “As a cabinet we are 100 per cent committed to delivering a new HRC owned by Wiltshire Council operated by our appointed contractor.\n<\/p>\n
\n “And we have asked for that work to begin and plans to be drawn up for applications to be made for planning permission for a site that’s owned by wheelchair council.”\n<\/p>\n
\n And Stuart Pryde, vice chairman of Cricklade Town Council, asked: “Could the cabinet explore the possibility of a reciprocal arrangement with a waste facility much nearer, say Swindon, which is substantially closer than the one in Marlborough, which is a 30 minute additional journey for people each way?\n<\/p>\n
\n “It would be particularly useful in the north of Wiltshire if we could access, in the interim period, an alternate facility.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Council leader Ian Thorn said: “We’re very happy to look at that.\n<\/p>\n
\n “My only caveat would be I suspect Swindon would probably want to charge us for it. But nonetheless that’s not a reason for us not asking the question.”\n<\/p>\n
\n In a statement outside of the meeting, Cllr Sample told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We are in the process of contacting our neighbouring authorities to discuss issues associated with cross boundary waste.\n<\/p>\n
\n “These conversations are still at an early stage, and any future arrangements would need to ensure no additional cost burden to Wiltshire taxpayers.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n While Cllr Bridget Wayman, Conservative spokesman for the environment, said: “This is not a consultation – it is the Liberal Democrats telling you what is going to happen.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Swindon Borough Council has been approached for comment.\n<\/p>\n