Hapton residents 'devastated' by Lancashire County Council's new plan to tackle waste disposal
A Hapton family has described feeling “devastated” by a new plan to tackle non-recyclable rubbish in Burnley.
Lancashire County Council plans to use the Envirofuel site in Accrington Road for two years from Wednesday, April 1st, to deal with black bin wet waste from Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, and Rossendale.
The Reform UK-led county council's current contract with SUEZ to use the Whinney Hill landfill site in Altham ends in March.
Carrie Robinson, of Valley Gardens, says she and her partner are so worried about additional rubbish being disposed of on their “doorstep” that they are considering moving. Numerous residents from the area met today with Conservative Coun. Jamie McGowan, who represents Hapton with Park, to raise their concerns.
"We’re really worried because we already have an issue with rats and flies. It’s going to be 10 times worse. It’s going to stink. We don’t want it on our doorstep. We’re devastated," Carrie said.
"My sister in Rosegrove, she’s not happy about it, and I know a lady planning on putting her house up for sale.
"We’re thinking about having our house valued because we’re worried about it affecting the price. We have lived here for six years, and we’re happy. We don’t want to move, but we don’t want to smell that next to us every day.
"The council says it’s going to be there for two years, but once it’s there, I think it will stay.”
Carrie is also concerned about the impact on traffic, which she described as “already horrendous.”
She added that she had not received any communication from the county council about the decision.
Burnley Borough Council also says it was not consulted. Coun. Howard Baker, Burnley Council’s Executive Member for Community and Environmental Services, said the authority is “not happy with this decision”.
It is proceeding with its own plan to create a waste transfer station on land near Widow Hill Road on the Heasandford Industrial Estate.
Numerous borough councillors have joined him in condemning the announcement.
Coun. Alan Hosker, the leader of Burnley Reform UK, revealed that “none of the ward councillors were even told”.
Coun. McGowan called the deal “so wrong”, while Coun. Mark Townsend, the leader of Burnley Labour, described feeling “shocked and angry.”