Protesters urge Hampshire County Council to stop tip closures

Many people were carrying signs to show their opposition - with one saying 'Save our tip - again!' - at the protest, which took place outside the recycling centre in Claylands Road, Bishop's Waltham, on Saturday.

Among the hundreds of people were many councillors, from all parties, including Conservative Neil Bolton, who represents the Upper Meon Valley on Winchester City Council, who said he was confident Hampshire councillors would make the right decision and save Bishop's Waltham tip from closure when they meet on Monday.

Cllr Neil Bolton (Image: Kimberley Barber)The protest was calling for Hampshire County Council to reconsider it proposals to close 12 household waste and recycling centres under its plan to fill the current financial gap of £175m forecasted to 2025/26.

READ MORE: Councillors slam plans to close a dozen tips across Hampshire

The Conservative-led county council said that 12 of the 24 tips, those that offer “the least value for money”, could be shut in phases.

As well as Bishop's Waltham, the plans would see those in Romsey, Hedge End, Marchwood and Fair Oak closed.

The demo had been arranged by Councillor Jonathan Williams, the Lib Dem representative from Bishop's Waltham. He took to a megaphone to make his voice heard by the large crowd. 

He said that all his Lib Dem representatives would be speaking against the plans at the crunch council meeting on Monday. 

Cllr Martin Tod (Image: Kimberley Barber)

Winchester MP Danny Chambers was also at the event. He said: "It is really important that we keep this tip open. We are trying to encourage people to recycle more and to dispose of their waste responsibly. If this tip closes it will cost more in the long-term to deal with the increase in fly tipping. I am really pleased to see so many people here." 

Winchester City Council leader Martin Tod was also at the demo. 

He said: "Under the Conservatives we know there is a financial crisis at the county council but they also have one of the lowest recycling rates in the country. This proposal has not been thought through. There's lots of new development in this area so we need more infrastructure. The worry is that when you are asking people to drive more than seven miles to their nearest tip, not only will you see more people driving which is not good for the environment, you will see more fly tipping." 

Many local residents turned up to show their disapproval. 

Colin Bown, who lives in St Bonnet Drive, said: "It will be horrendous. Not only are they proposing to close this tip, but also Alresford and others in this area. There's so much fly tipping already, but this will leave us totally and utterly in the mire." 

Cllr Jonathan Williams and MP Danny Chambers (Image: Kimberley Barber) Judith Marsh, a parish councillor, said she would not mind paying as long as it meant the centre could stay - and she called for a change in the law to allow payments. 

Others like Jackie Porter, ward councillor for The Worthy's, had come to the Bishop's Waltham protest to also protest about planned closures at other centres kike Alresford, Hedge End and Fair Oak. 

Kevin D’Cruze, who lives in nearby Pine Road, labelled the plans as 'disgraceful'. 

He said: "I also have concerns over this council's plans to cut school crossing patrols. They are putting children's lives at risk. It is disgraceful the way this council is carrying on." 

Other residents such as Andrew Tree and and Jane Taylor, who live near each other in Curdridge, called the plans short sighted. 

Steve Taylor, also from Curdridge, said: "If it is to close, then will we be paying less in council tax? Our council tax is going up all the time, yet we don't appear to be getting what we are paying for."

Annie Lowe, from Bishop's Waltham Gardening Club, said they were also concerned about where they would be able to dispose of contaminated garden waste, if the centre was to close. 

Kevin D'Cruze (Image: Kimberley Barber)

As well as Bishop's Waltham, those at risk are: Alresford, Casbrook, Fair Oak, Aldershot, Bordon, Hedge End, Marchwood, Petersfield, Somerley, Hartley Wintney and Hayling Island

The closures would save £1.6m. 

A consultation about the plan has been held but only eight per cent of the 10,533 respondents to a consultation supported the initiative.

A Hampshire County Council select committee has already rejected the proposal to close the tip, but Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet will make its final decision at a meeting on Monday, October 14.