Surrey County Council is launching a consultation about possible changes to community recycling centres (CRCs).
The Council very much regrets having to make these proposals. Whilst they create efficiencies, which take into current account patterns of use, they are at the same time a reduction in service that I know is highly valued by our residents.
Continued cuts to funding, rising costs and increasing demand for key services means that the need to find savings has reached unprecedented levels. This year alone we need to make savings of more than £100m – that’s about 10% of our overall budget.
The following changes are proposed:
- Permanent closure of four smaller CRCs – Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham
- Ending the free daily allowance of non-household waste
- Closing CRCs on two weekdays so all sites are open for five days a week
- Restricting users of vans, trailers and pick-ups to larger CRCs only
- Ensuring CRCs in Camberley and Farnham are only used by Surrey residents
For more information, please visit the consultation webpage at www.surreycc.gov.uk/recyclingcentres. The questionnaire will be live from Friday 23 June.
Hard copies will also be available at CRCs and by calling 03456 009 009 or texting 07860 053 456. The consultation closes on Monday 7 August. We are encouraging consultation returns to be made via the above webpage where at all possible for ease of processing.
The consultation responses will be used to inform the final plans which will be agreed by SCC’s cabinet this autumn. Your support in encouraging residents to take part in the consultation is appreciated.
Although I understand why these changes will not be welcomed I do firmly believe that they will allow a comprehensive and efficient CRC service to Surrey’s residents to be maintained while delivering savings to the taxpayer to help protect essential services.
Mike Goodman
Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport
Surrey County Councillor for Bagshot, Windlesham & Chobham