Liberal Democrats fight closures of Surrey's Community Recycling Centres

The Liberal Democrats were out in full force at yesterday's Surrey County Council's Cabinet meeting petitioning against the proposed closures of a number of Surrey's recycling centres. 6 petitions were presented to the Cabinet regarding the recycling centres, with one petition reaching over 8,000 signatures.

The initial recommendation to Cabinet was for the closure of recycling centres in Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham, although this was changed last minute to postpone the closure until the end of September while they look into ways they can make the savings elsewhere.

Lib Dem County Councillor for Dorking Hills, Hazel Watson, said:
"Unfortunately the threat of closure of the Dorking Tip remains. We must continue to lobby the County Council to retain the Dorking Tip on a permanent basis, and for the Tip to accept non-recyclable materials so that local residents in southern Mole Valley will continue to have a local tip within a reasonable distance of where they live."

Lib Dem by-election candidate for Warlingham, Charles Lister, said:
"I am glad the Council has begun to listen to the views of residents who object strongly to the closure of the recycling centres. It is critical that residents continue to be listened to. Making it harder to recycle flies in the face of the government's strategy for the environment. I am concerned that limiting our tips to recyclable material will lead to more fly tipping unless getting rid of waste is made easy"