Tip closure degrades local recycling - councillor

The closure of a tip in Bagshot will "degrade" recycling services for local residents, a councillor has claimed.

Bagshot Recycling Centre in Swift Lane will close next month, with residents having to use centres in Camberley and Chertsey instead.

Councillor Richard Wilson, Surrey Heath councillor for Bagshot and North Windlesham, said residents valued the site.

But Surrey County Council said it was outdated and too small to be upgraded.

Councillor Wilson, who created a petition to save the recycling centre, said: "People don't complain about it. Everyone values it.

"It serves 12,000 people a year, and it is such a degrading of their service."

The council approved the closure of the recycling centre in November.

A consultation found that 93% of respondents opposed the move, but 76% would use alternative sites.

Bagshot resident Steven Smith said: "I use the recycling centre all the time and it's really disappointing as it's a really good resource to have and the other one is the other side of Camberley.

"It's a pain. This one is two minutes from my house whereas the other one is a 30-minute round trip."

A council spokesperson said the site was to be closed due to "its poor condition" and as it was a "potential safety hazards for visitors".

They also said there were "repeated incidents of vandalism".

The council added that opening hours in Camberley would be extended.

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