Cheltenham’s Swindon Road household recycling centre, which was closed earlier this year, could reopen if Gloucestershire County Council (Shire Hall) agrees to take over management and approves a viable business case.
The recycling centre was temporarily shut down by Cheltenham Borough Council, then led by the Liberal Democrats, due to the inability to fund the necessary £1 million upgrade to comply with new environmental regulations.
Previously, the Conservative-led Gloucestershire County Council declined to take over the site. However, with the Liberal Democrats now in control at Shire Hall, renewed discussions about the facility’s future have begun.
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Local resident Alvin Harrison voiced his support for reopening the centre, emphasizing its convenience for the community and its role in reducing fly tipping and enabling easy disposal of small electrical goods.
Martin Horwood, cabinet member for nature, climate, and waste reduction at Gloucestershire County Council, confirmed ongoing talks with Cheltenham Borough Council. He stressed that any transfer of responsibility to the county would require a detailed business case analyzing capital and revenue costs, as well as long-term plans.
He stated, “We have reopened positive discussions to assess the realistic costs and options for bringing recycling services back to the Swindon Road site. This process will take time, and any decision will depend on cabinet approval after reviewing a comprehensive business case.”
As both councils continue their dialogue, residents await clarity on whether the Swindon Road household recycling centre will once again serve the Cheltenham community.