Burnley Council 'not happy' with new Hapton plan to tackle waste disposal

Reform UK-run Lancashire County Council plans to temporarily use the Envirofuel site in Accrington Road, Hapton, from April 1st to dispose of non-recyclable waste.

The county council's current contract with SUEZ for the use of the Whinney Hill landfill site in Altham ends in March. It has awarded Envirofuel with a two-year contract to take rubbish from Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, and Rossendale.

Burnley Council says it was not consulted on the decision, and plans to create a new waste transfer station on land north of Widow Hill Road on the Heasandford Industrial Estate.

Coun. Howard Baker, Burnley Council’s Executive Member for Community and Environmental Services, said the authority is “continuing to progress its own long-term waste infrastructure plans to ensure the borough can meet its statutory responsibilities in the future.

“These plans include the construction of a new waste and cleansing depot and the conversion of the council’s existing depot into a dedicated waste transfer station.”

Commenting on the Hapton disposal plan, Coun. Baker added: “We are not happy with this decision.

“Burnley Council’s executive has been clear and consistent in planning for the borough’s long-term waste needs in a way that minimises the impact on residents.

“Our proposals for a waste transfer station in the middle of Heasandford Industrial estate do just that.”

Coun. Alan Hosker, the leader of Burnley Reform UK, has also condemned the Lancashire County Council’s announcement.

“To say I am not happy is an understatement,” said Coun. Alan Hosker.

“None of the ward councillors were even told.

“On finding out, I spoke to the county council leader and said in no terms should this be happening.

“I was kept in the dark.”

Conservative Coun. Jamie McGowan, who represents Hapton with Park, said: "This secret LCC deal has taken us all by surprise, and it’s so wrong.

“There is a world of difference between processed waste and the reality of untreated 'wet' black-bin waste from across all of East Lancashire being dumped on our doorstep.

“The secrecy has been staggering. No consultation, no transparency, and better alternatives from Burnley Council have been ignored.

“Hapton is being treated as a dumping ground, and frankly, the whole deal stinks.”

Coun. Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Labour, added: “I am as shocked and angry as local residents at this decision by the Reform-led county council.

“This site has never been suitable for waste handling.

“The fact there was zero consultation with residents is outrageous.

“The LCC decision is a bad one, but it gives Burnley Council the time to drop its flawed decision for a WTS at Heasandford and start to work with other councils to come up with a long-term solution that will actually work.

“The residents around Heasandford have been treated just as badly by Burnley Council as those in Hapton have by LCC, and it's time to go back to the drawing board on all these botched waste management plans to get it right.”