Call to reopen Burnley and Pendle waste recycling centres

The Burnley Express reported on March 24th that the county council was closing all its tips as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

However, this has led to an increase in fly-tipping, none more so than in a rural part of Bacup Road, Cliviger.Now, Labour county councillor Azhar Ali and party colleagues Tony Martin, Sobia Malik and Mohammed Iqbal want to see them reopened.

County Coun. Ali said: "There is growing concerns regarding the amount of fly-tipping going on across Burnley and Pendle, part of this is due to the closure of the recycling centres across both boroughs. People are even dumping waste in back streets and rural areas.

"I recognise that COVID-19 is creating challenges right across the county especially the management of social distancing requirements and the safety of our staff and public.

"However this growing situation will begin to create secondary community health problems, with general house hold waist being mixed in with the rubbish being dumped, that is attracting vermin especially with the forecast of warm weather.

"The borough councils are doing an excellent job maintaining the current house hold services and continue to look at ways of helping residents

"The vast majority people in Burnley and Pendle are being fantastic in supporting their local communities but it's always the case that we have people who only think about themselves and act in such a reckless manner. Hopefully over time these people can be identifies and prosecuted."

The group of councillors has written to the administration in charge of the county council requesting:

· re-opening the Widow Hill Road, Burnley, and Barnoldswick Recycling sites from 9am to 4pm every day;

· that limited vehicles are allowed on site at any time. (The Widow Hill Road centre in Burnley is a modern facility and could easily be managed with up to four vehicles at a time);

· that the members of staff on site are supported by our parking officers who can marshal the traffic flow in and out of the site;

· the police would be called upon if our staff are threatened or abused by any member of the public with the council supporting zero tolerance policy.