A petition with 3,381 signatures was been presented to Nottinghamshire County Council, urging officials to reconsider the proposed closure of the West Bridgford Recycling Centre.
Submitted by Councillor Gordon Wheeler on behalf of concerned residents, the petition highlights the role the facility plays in the community and calls for a full exploration of ways to improve its efficiency through the integration of technology.
The petition came amid a county-wide strategic review of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC), designed to modernise waste management and create a future-proof network of sites. While the council has not yet made a formal decision on the West Bridgford site, plans are underway to identify a potential replacement facility.
• West Bridgford: New waste recycling ‘supersite’ planned for Gamston
The review, conducted by a cross-party task group on behalf of the Place Select Committee, has examined operational challenges at existing HWRCs and explored innovative ways to enhance service delivery. Recommendations from this scrutiny process were accepted by the council’s cabinet in July 2024. These included integrating advanced technologies and redesigning sites to address issues like capacity, accessibility, and traffic congestion.
Commitments from the Council
In response to the petition, the council has reaffirmed that no recycling centre will close until a suitable and improved alternative is operational. Council leader Cllr Neil Clarke MBE reiterated this commitment during the 26 September 2024 meeting and again today 11 December after announcing the potential new supersite at Gamston, assuring residents that any replacement site would offer better accessibility, enhanced services, and the capacity to meet future recycling demands.
The current Rugby Road site in West Bridgford has faced challenges, including congestion in the surrounding area. As part of the review, the council is actively exploring potential locations for a replacement facility. The new site is expected to address these issues while accommodating the community’s growing recycling needs.
