Nine months after the Liberal Democrats assumed control at Cheltenham Borough Council, uncertainty lingers over the reopening of the Swindon Road household recycling centre. The popular site was closed in January last year by the Lib Dem-led council, citing the need to comply with new environmental regulations and the prohibitive cost of £1 million required for upgrades.
At the time, Cheltenham Borough Council approached Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), then Conservative-led, about taking over the site. However, the county council declined, highlighting sufficient capacity at nearby facilities such as Wingmoor Farm in Bishop’s Cleeve to handle Cheltenham’s waste.
During a recent Borough Council meeting on March 23, local resident Elliot Craddock inquired about progress toward reopening the Swindon Road tip. Paul Baker, Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling (LD, Charlton Park), responded that the previous Conservative administration had “refused point blank” any support to reopen the site, directing residents to nearby Wingmoor Farm instead.
READ MORE: George Skivington Frustrated as Gloucester Suffers Early Setback Against Leicester Tigers
READ MORE: The Rise and Fall of Blobbyland: Noel Edmonds' Enchanted Theme Park Turned Abandoned Relic
Baker added that the new Liberal Democrat administration at GCC has been much more cooperative. Several meetings and an exploratory site visit have taken place, and Cheltenham Borough Council awaits the county’s review of future options for the site.
He emphasized that the Swindon Road centre still requires significant investment, which would have to come from Gloucestershire County Council. “There is no question that Cheltenham, as the county’s largest urban area, must have its own household recycling centre for the convenience of its growing population,” Baker stated.
In the meantime, Cheltenham Borough Council is expanding kerbside recycling, soon including tetra pak collection. A trial for flexible plastic bags and packaging collection is also set to roll out across the town.
Craddock raised concerns about the abrupt closure and questioned whether the borough council had adequately sought assistance from the County Council beforehand. Borough Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) confirmed that she had reached out via email to Stephen Davies, the then Conservative leader at Shire Hall, prior to the closure but received a firm refusal.
Davies acknowledged the exchange and underscored that the operation of recycling centres is the County Council’s responsibility. He stated, “If there is a need now that one is closed, it is for the County Council to address that.”
The situation remains under review, with residents and officials alike awaiting a definitive plan for Cheltenham’s future household recycling facilities.