New Forest District Council set to object to Hampshire County Council’s proposed closures of Marchwood and Somerley waste and recycling centres

Closure plans for two New Forest tips are set to be opposed by the district council.

The facilities at Marchwood and Somerley, near Ringwood, are among 12 under threat, as Conservative-run Hampshire County Council seeks to meet a forecasted £132m budget shortfall by April 2025.

As reported in the A&T, Cllr Jack Davies, who represents Pennington, recently urged the leader of NFDC to oppose the plans in its formal response to the consultation on the grounds it could lead to an increase in flytipping.

This would result in greater cost to the council for clearing flytips, he said.

The council looks set to agree, with a meeting planned to discuss it on Thursday.

A report to the council’s resources and transformation overview and scrutiny panel states: “NFDC does not support the option of closing two household waste and recycling centres within the area.

“This is because of the impact on our residents, the local environment and the council itself.”

It adds: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, which included a period of HWRCs being closed, NFDC saw a dramatic and significant rise in all types of flytipping.

“In the year April 2020 to March 2021 we collected 3,600 flytips, against a five-year average of under 900.

“This number has never returned to pre-pandemic levels and is currently 2,500 incidents per year.”

It added that increased flytipping would have a detrimental impact on key landowners including Forestry England, as well as livestock.

The council’s new waste collections, due to be implemented in 2025 and aimed at minimising waste and increasing recycling, could also be affected by the closures.

The report said residents may begin using their waste wheelie bins to dispose of inappropriate materials such as paint and electrical items, which could be hazardous.

It would also miss the opportunity to divert these materials to recycling.

The council does support the idea of introducing charges for discretionary services, subject to consultation.

However, it adds the county council should be “mindful” of the potential impact to residents on low incomes.

Reducing the opening days and/or hours of centres would be supported by NFDC only as an alternative to closures, the report added.

Cllr Davies told the A&T he was “over the moon” to receive the council’s backing to keep the tips open.

A petition had been launched by the New Forest Liberal Democrats, including Cllr Davies, who previously called the proposal to close the centres “ill-considered” and “unworkable”. It has 2,700 signatures.

He added: “The response from local people has been incredible. Hampshire County Council must now listen to the people of the New Forest and keep the tips open.”