Alresford residents raise concerns over proposed tip closure

As previously reported, Hampshire County Council is planning to save money by shutting several recycling centre, including Alresford, Bishop’s Waltham and Fair Oak.

The council’s plan will also impact opening hours and days and change the type of waste accepted at other household waste recycling centres (HWRC). The county council predicts that the closure of the three tips, along with the Hayling Island and Hartley Wintney sites, would save approximately £500,000 per year.

Residents have voiced their concerns to the Chronicle about the impact the closure will have on the town.

READ MORE: Protesters demonstrate over plans to close town's tip

Andrew Cliff, 65, of Old Alresford, said: “It is a really bad idea; people are going to fly tip.

Andrew Cliff (Image: Chris Atkinson)“I’m a builder, so I mostly use a skip when at work, but we take all of our recycling to the tip – it would be a pain to have to go to Winchester or Alton to get rid of it. Fly tipping is going to happen more, you can just tell.”

Lindsay Dodd-Long, 40, of Nursery Road, said: “I think it is unfortunate. This is a large local area and the tip is used by a lot of people. A lot of people are really worried about it.

“I feel like there is so much fly tipping happening here already and it is just going to increase it. It would be a real shame, and with the new houses coming it is just going to get worse. I think the council need to understand how many people use the tip and the effect closing it is going to have.”

Lindsey Dodd-Long (Image: Chris Atkinson)

Cheriton resident Sean Adams, 65, was particularly irate about the proposal.

He said: “I think it is going to be awful.

Sean Adams (Image: Chris Atkinson)

“I think they should concentrate on cutting costs by cutting the wages of the staff. All that happens is the council taxes go up and services are trimmed back. I couldn’t vote for anyone who thinks it’s a good idea.”

Antony Oxley, 60, of Pound Hill, said: “They have already stopped people from going into the tip on foot, it seems like they are trying to shut it down.

Antony Oxley (Image: Chris Atkinson)

“Having to travel to Alton or Winchester means we’re going to have to use more petrol and it’s all going to take more time. I think a lot of people are just going to fly tip instead.”

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Micaela Corby, 60, of South Road, was less worried about the proposed closure. She said: “To be honest, since they changed it so you had to book to go it’s been less useful. It feels obvious that they have been trying to close it down for a while.

Micaela Corby (Image: Chris Atkinson)

“At the end of the day, Winchester has a good dump, and I don’t really plan on going there every two seconds. Alresford is good real estate, and the dump could be turned into nice houses or something. We have to move with the times.”