By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A former Cheltenham mayor believes plans were afoot to close Swindon Road tip back in March when civic chiefs could not give a commitment they would keep it open for another two years.
Former Borough Councillor Wendy Flynn asked questions about the household recycling centre at a meeting earlier this year.
Cheltenham Borough Council leaders said on March 18 that they were committed to the site but could not commit to keeping it open for at least the next two years due to the uncertainty of local government finance.
But last week the cabinet agreed for the Swindon Road depot to close on January 10 to undergo a prolonged closure to consider the site’s long term future.
Waste, recycling and public Realm cabinet member Izaac Tailford (LD, All Saints) said changes to environmental regulations mean the Swindon Road site needs an entire new surface and kerbing at the site to avoid the leeching of chemicals in the ground should there be a fire.
He said new covered storage areas are also needed as well as new permits and this could all cost a total of £1m.
The council will look at options including an assessment of the depot and the potential for finding a cost-effective solution for the site with Gloucestershire County Council (GCC).
Cllr Flynn said: “I asked the questions I did because I suspected that plans were afoot to close the HRC. They obviously were.”
She said the recent decision by the Liberal Democrat council to close the local household recycling centre was hugely concerning.
“Particularly given the series of measures that have progressively restricted access to this vital facility,” she said.
“Over the past couple of years, the council has made it increasingly difficult for residents to utilise the site by implementing limited opening hours and a cumbersome booking system.
“These actions have resulted in a significant drop in users, which the council now cites as justification for the closure.
“However, this reasoning overlooks a critical issue: the restrictions themselves have driven people away.
“The claim that government legislation and a need for substantial financial investment—a reported million pounds—necessitate the centre’s closure raises questions about the council’s financial priorities.
“Instead of allocating necessary funds for maintaining essential services like the recycling centre, the Lib Dem council has diverted resources to flashy vanity projects, such as the Minster Exchange which overshot its budget by more than £4 million.”
“The increasing interest on loans taken out for the Golden Valley Development, with not one brick laid to date seven years after the land purchase, and with no sign of any revenue from the development flowing back to council coffers, further compounds the financial mismanagement.
“Moreover, the consequences of closing the recycling centre cannot be understated. Since the introduction of restricted hours and a booking system, there has been a noticeable rise in fly-tipping, particularly in areas like Hesters Way.
“This trend is likely to worsen if the centre is completely shut down. Residents who once relied on the facility will be left with few options for disposing of their waste, leading to a potential public health crisis and environmental degradation.
“The council’s argument that kerbside collections and alternative facilities located three miles away negate the need for the recycling centre fails to consider the realities faced by many residents.
“For those in more deprived areas, the added burden of traveling further to dispose of rubbish—especially for individuals who do not own a vehicle or cannot easily arrange transportation—will only exacerbate their challenges.
“This move disproportionately affects those who are already struggling, making it harder for them to manage waste responsibly.
“In conclusion, the decision to close the local household recycling centre appears to be a misguided step by the Lib Dem council, rooted in shortsighted financial planning and a lack of understanding of the community’s needs.
“It is essential for local leaders to prioritise sustainable waste management solutions and to reconsider the closure before the social and environmental ramifications become irreversible.
“Residents deserve better access to recycling facilities, not further barriers that threaten their well-being and the health of their community.”
Cllr Tailford said the amount of legislative and regulatory change relating to waste and recycling has been significant.
“In light of this, we must recognise that the recycling centre needs major modernisation and investment, hence the decision to close it for a prolonged period, whilst we take the necessary time to consider options and liaise with partners, including the county council, about options for the site,” he said.
“Works to bring the site up to standard in line with new regulations are set to cost £1million and without a new permit, the Environment Agency will not allow the site to continue to operate.
“Gloucestershire County Council, as the waste disposal authority, is required to make adequate provision for household recycling centres in the county, with our nearest being Wingmoor Farm.
“The Swindon Road household recycling centre is a discretionary service wholly funded by Cheltenham – the only one run by a Borough or District council in the country.
“As part of the options explored, we are asking the County Council to take on the works and running of the site.
“The previously introduced booking system and changes to operating hours brought our site in line with Gloucestershire County Council sites. The booking system limited the use of a Cheltenham Borough paid resource to only residents who reside within the Borough.
“In speaking to the County Council, they believe their sites had taken on that additional usage.
“This was a positive change overall, as Wingmoor Farm and other County ran sites can take a much larger range of items for recycling, such as rubble and plasterboard, than we could take at our much smaller site.”
Cllr Tailford said he understood the concerns over fly-tipping which is a challenge facing all councils and it is something they are working to improve.
“That said, I do not think the need to drive to Wingmoor Farm, or use kerbside collection services, will turn our residents from law-abiding-citizens to criminally fly-tipping.
“I think it would be wrong and unfair to suggest this of them. This prolonged closure allows us to test the impact in the real-world, rather than assumptions, so we can address any potential impacts and look at them before any final decision is made.
“It’s only right that we review all that is on offer for residents, taking into consideration our enhanced and increasing kerbside services, value for the tax payer and how, during these difficult financial times, we are funding our many other valued, statutory front line services – as well as discretionary services that help our most vulnerable residents.
“The prolonged closure enables us to undertake a wide ranging review of the future of our waste and recycling services and to consider the long term requirements from a waste site and HRC provision.
“Although the council were the largest funder of the MX development, the budget also included a £3.1m contribution from the Government’s ‘Build Back Better’ fund. The original budget of £5.2m was approved for a very different specification which used shipping containers to construct the building.
“The final building is a permanent construction which is now close to full capacity and has transformed the Minister Gardens to support the growth of the local tech community in Cheltenham.
“This change in specification obviously meant an increased budget was required but, together with the council’s partnership with Hub8 by Plexal, was based on a sound business case which delivers benefits for both parties.
“In fuelling business growth and connecting our community the MX development is also the next step in our long term vision to become Cyber Capital of the UK. Golden Valley is a once in a generation opportunity to secure the future of our town and provides opportunities for everyone.
“The development of the UK Cyber Innovation Centre is the next milestone in delivering on this vision.
“Land was originally purchased in 2018 and in September 2023, a funding envelope was approved for the first phase of the development. This investment provides a significant financial opportunity for the council in both the medium and long term.
“This includes direct benefits such as income from developing the land, income from the planning applications and capital injections as the project evolves. Additionally, the council will also generate growth in business rates from the proposed Innovation Centre.
“The most recent Medium Term Financial Strategy estimates that £600k of business rate growth will be received from the Innovation Centre and Mobility Hub in 2027/28 to support our finances.
“We understand how valued waste and recycling services are to our residents. Cheltenham Borough Council is committed to introducing more ways to recycle overall.
“This includes our efforts to secure additional Bring Bank capacity, as well as introducing soft plastics and tetrapaks to kerbside collections across the town as soon as we can. Watch this space as we announce more information on this soon.”