Wiltshire plans to replace two recycling centres with one new facility

Wiltshire Council is planning to close two existing household recycling centres and replace them with a single council-owned facility, a move that has attracted concern from residents and campaigners.

The recycling centres at Lower Compton, near Calne, and Purton, near Royal Wootton Bassett, are both owned by Hills Waste and are currently the only household recycling centres in Wiltshire that are not owned by the council.

Wiltshire Council said the decision to close the two sites was driven largely by the cost of the contracts required to keep them operating.

Instead of continuing to pay for the existing arrangements, the council plans to build and operate its own recycling centre.

Council leader Ian Thorn said the authority had to make difficult financial decisions, with maintaining the council's financial stability a priority.

The proposal has faced opposition from residents who wanted the existing recycling centres to remain open.

There were also concerns that the two sites could close before a replacement facility was ready.

The council has agreed to keep the existing centres open for an additional year, with the possibility of extending the arrangement, giving it time to progress plans for the new facility.

However, the authority has made clear that it does not intend to keep both sites open permanently.

Another major concern has been the location of the replacement recycling centre.

Wiltshire Council considered 21 potential locations before selecting a site along Marlborough Road in Royal Wootton Bassett.

The proposed location is further along the road from an old council depot and would not be built directly on the former depot site.

The council owns the proposed land and says it is the only suitable option identified during its assessment.

According to the council, the site is large enough to accommodate a new household recycling centre and has good access and a suitable location to serve residents who currently use the Lower Compton and Purton facilities.

However, some local residents have raised concerns about traffic and road safety.

Marlborough Road is a two-lane country road that becomes narrower in places, including around a railway bridge.

Residents have questioned whether the existing road network would be able to cope with increased traffic from people visiting the new recycling centre, as well as vehicles removing waste when containers become full.

There are also concerns about a housing development located opposite the proposed site.

The council has stressed that the plans remain at an early stage and that the proposed recycling centre will have to go through the normal planning process.

Planning officials will examine issues including traffic, access and the potential impact on the surrounding area.

Ian Thorn said the planning process would allow the proposal to be thoroughly assessed and give residents another opportunity to comment on the plans.

The council said the project will now move into a detailed feasibility stage, with further work required before a final decision can be made.

The debate is therefore continuing over whether replacing two existing recycling centres with one council-owned facility will provide better value for taxpayers while still giving residents convenient access to household waste and recycling services.