Newly elected Labour Prudhoe Town Councillor Paddy O’Kelly has launched a petition to keep Prudhoe Recycling Centre open seven days a week.
Northumberland County Council has decided, without local consultation, that the Recycling Centre should only be open Friday to Monday. This is to save money, caused at least in part by a decline in funding to the County Council from the Tory Westminster Government.
Paddy and many local residents believe that the midweek closure of the centre will lead to an increase in fly-tipping, a decrease in recycling rates and create heavier traffic in West Wylam on the days when the site is open.
Angie Scott, the Labour Northumberland County Councillor for Prudhoe North, has described the Council’s decision as “ill conceived”. Speaking to the Chronicle and Hexham Courant she went on to say:
“We need to do our bit for climate change and the residents deserve value for money in the spending of their hard-earned contribution through council tax NCC is having to make swingeing cuts due to its mismanagement of our money in the past. The Prudhoe site is well designed and effective with a good rate of waste recycling, coupled with a friendly, helpful and efficient team which is currently a credit for local government.”