More than 1,500 people have signed a petition to Bradford Council calling for plans to close Keighley's main Household Waste and Recycling Centre to be scrapped.
The council has proposed closing the site on Royd Ings Avenue behind the Keighley Cougars ground as part of its budget proposals for 2023-24. It says it is one of the least-used waste and recycling facilities in the district and its closure could save the council more than £1.5m over the next two years. If the closure goes ahead, the nearest council waste and recycling facilities would be at Sugden End near Cross Roads or the one on Golden Butts Road in Ilkley.
Opponents to the plan say closing the site is likely to result in increased fly-tipping locally.
Bradford Council has its next full council meeting on 24th January, and the size of the petition submitted to the council means there is now likely to be a debate held on the issue at that meeting.
The petition was organised and promoted by Keighley MP Robbie Moore and has been handed over by residents Laura Kelly and Martin Crangle to Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe.
The petition can be signed at robbiemoore.org.uk/SaveOurTip
Lead Petitioner Laura Kelly said: “The plan to close the Household Waste and Recycling Centre is another badly thought-out plan, the cost to the environment and Council will be far greater than the savings.
"The residents of Keighley pay for services and Bradford Council should provide them. This cost-cutting exercise demonstrates another false economy by the Council.”
Seconding Petitioner Martin Crangle said: “It might not be glamorous, but the tip is part of Keighley, used by all residents to help recycle and remove waste. Nobody, not a single person I know, is in favour of the closure.
"Trying to reduce costs by closing a service like the tip is a false economy and will cause chaos to the alternative waste sites in the local area.”
Robbie Moore MP said: “If Labour-run Bradford Council can find hundreds of thousands of pounds for vanity projects in Bradford’s city centre, then they certainly have the capacity to U-turn on their foolish and incredibly short-sighted proposal to close Keighley’s Tip.
"Residents and businesses from across Keighley and our wider area are quite rightly infuriated by their plans. Closing the site will undoubtedly increase fly-tipping in the area and congestion at alternative sites and cut an essential service which Keighley residents and businesses are paying for through their Council Tax and Business Rates.
"Once again, the political leadership of Bradford Council are determined to give Keighley a rough deal. It is great the petition has now been submitted, but it still remains incredibly important we demonstrate to the Council the strength of feeling on this issue and I therefore urge all to continue to sign the petition.”
There is opposition to Bradford Council's plans from across the political landscape.
Labour parliamentary candidate and former MP John Grogan said: "I am opposed to plans to close this important facility. Bradford Council is under severe financial pressure following government cuts but if we are serious about recycling and combatting fly tipping the centre must remain open. When it was closed during the pandemic it was noticeable how much more rubbish there was in Keighley.
"The good news is that there is a consultation going on so I would urge all who are concerned to make their views known."
Councillor Caroline Whitaker from the Green Party, who represents Craven ward on Bradford Council, said: "If the site closes this would mean residents in Eastburn, Steeton and Silsden would have to travel much further to dispose of their specialist waste/recycling. If you would like to object to this proposal please comment on the Budget Consultation by the 25th January."
Comment on the proposals on the Bradford Council website by tapping here.
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