Could closed tip be reopened after backlash?

Bradford Council has confirmed it is "exploring" the potential reopening of at least one of its recently closed civic tips following a public backlash.

The move forms part of a wider review of recycling services across the district, which was confirmed during Wednesday night's full council meeting at Bradford City Hall.

Councillors questioned the Reform UK-led authority's executive over long queues and reduced hours at Keighley and other recycling centres, as well as concerns about fly-tipping, and urged a rethink.

Ian Walker, the council's spokesperson for neighbourhoods and communities, said: "I can confirm that we are looking at various options regarding all of the household waste sites."

In a written response to questions, Walker also said the council had approved the use of almost £6m of special funding for improving recycling performance to "develop a range of business cases aimed at enhancing waste services and increasing recycling rates".

He said this work would include consideration of "improvements to the district's five existing Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), as well as exploring the potential reopening of Sugden End HWRC".

However, he stressed in his written response that: "In relation to fly-tipping, there is no direct evidence linking HWRC usage levels with fly-tipping volumes."

"Despite previous site closures, the remaining HWRCs continue to experience increased visitor numbers and waste tonnages."

Any reopening of recycling centres would partly reverse the decision by the previous Labour-run administration to close three sites as part of a raft of emergency cost-cutting measures in 2024.

At the time, the authority said the closures would save about £1m a year while ensuring every constituency retained access to a HWRC

However there has been growing public backlash over the decision, and wider concerns about the efficiency and design of the remaining sites.

Conservative group leader Rebecca Poulsen also asked the executive to clarify a mistaken recent announcement on the council's website about bank holiday Monday opening at two sites, which she said had led to confusion and "hundreds" of people arriving at the sites only to be turned away.

Walker responded that the two sites had remained open on some bank holidays following the wider changes due to "operational requirements", but that the officially approved policy had "consistently provided for their closure".

"These closures are necessary to ensure services operate within approved budgets," the authority said, adding that: "Recruiting and retaining staff willing to work weekends and Bank Holidays continues to present a significant challenge."

However, Poulsen urged decision-makers to reconsider, asking: "Can bank holiday openings be reviewed? Because it's a really important day when people want to get rid of waste, and we want people to do the right thing."

Neighbouring Calderdale Council's cabinet has also recently reversed tip closures, and took on a new company for the contract.

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