Kent County Council tip closure plans send residents ‘wrong message’ as Dover’s Labour and Conservative councillors unite to oppose cuts

The proposed closure of a household waste centre has been described as “counterproductive” and sending out the “wrong message” to reduce waste and promote recycling.

In all three options being outlined by Kent County Council as part of a £1.5 million savings package, the site at Richborough would shut.

Now, both sides of the chamber at Dover District Council (DDC) are uniting to fight the planned cutbacks to the “key service” to slash household waste recycling centres (HWRC).

In two of recommendations put forward by chiefs at County Hall, the Dover and Deal facilities would be reduced to opening five days-a-week instead of seven.

Now both the newly-elected Labour leadership at the district council and the Conservative opposition have spoken out in protest.

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DDC leader Kevin Mills (Lab) said: “We’re urging KCC to rethink these plans, which are counterproductive both to the environment and cost saving.

“Whilst we appreciate the pressure on KCC’s budget they should be seeking to protect the key services on which people rely.

“Residents are rightly concerned that these cuts will lead to yet more fly-tipping, and the costs associated with clearing it up, and send the wrong message when districts and boroughs are working hard to promote recycling and waste reduction.”

Opposition leader Trevor Bartlett (Con) said: “We firmly believe that Richborough HWRC plays a vital role in our community

“Its closure would harm our residents, the environment and our local economy.

“We stand united in our commitment to protect this essential resource.”

Cllr Dan Friend (Con), opposition cabinet member for housing, skills and education said: “The overwhelming support from our fellow councillors, community groups and residents demonstrates the collective determination to preserve Richborough HWRC.

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“By working collaboratively we can create a powerful voice that will be heard.

“Together we are resolute in our efforts to oppose the closure and find effective solutions that meet the waste management needs of our communities.”

The Richborough site, in Ramsgate Road, would be one of up to four recycling centres that could go completely after three options were published last month by KCC.

They also provide variations as to which centre across Kent would close two days a week, like the ones in Honeywood Road, Whitfield, and Southwall Road, Deal.

The move has already been criticised by Labour county councillor Kelly Grehan, who represents Dartford, where the tip there is also threatened with complete closure.

She said the proposals were “ludicrous” and said it showed the Conservative administration’s talk about fighting climate change was “empty words”.

KCC says there has been a dramatic reduction in the amount of waste being taken to its 19 recycling centres over the past five years.

In 2017/18, more than 175,000 tonnes of material were managed through the sites, which reduced to 94,250 tonnes in 2022/23

That period coincided with the Covid pandemic and the introduction of a pre-booking system in 2020, which the public voted to keep in a consultation the following year.

A 12-week consultation for these closures begins in July.

This move is to save £1.1m during the 2023/24 financial year and a further £400,000 in the following year’s budget.

The authority has claimed it is at risk of insolvency if it does not clear a deficit of £53.7m.

A council report says over the 2017/18 to 2022/23, the amount of fly-tipped waste collected by district and borough councils reduced from 3,794 tonnes to 2,175 tonnes.

While there are 77,000 slots available to be booked every week, across the county little more than 32,000 are actually taken.

Richborough is visited 1,214 times a week on average compared with one of the busiest centres, Tovil in Maidstone, which has 2,492 trips.

KCC says closing sites will cut costs through factors such as no longer paying business rates, utility expenditure and contractor charges.

The local authority is looking to save an overall £55m this year as costs of services have risen by more than £200m.