Petition fails to save Beal Hey

Councillor Mark Alcock (left) with fellow Save Beal Hey campaigners and their petition, which was handed over to the GMWDA at Friday’s meeting

A 4,100-NAME petition wasn’t enough to save Beal Hey recycling centre from closure.

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority’s (GMWDA) board decided to shut the Chandos Street site in Shaw — which serves 80,000 residents — at a meeting on Friday.

But after legal warnings made by Rochdale’s council leader in the meeting, officers said they would consult further with district councils.

The authority was told that closure of household waste recycling centres could save £875,000 through reduced operating costs.

Shaw Lib-Dem councillor Mark Alcock, who led the campaign and a weekend protest march, said he was appalled at the decision but vowed to carry on collecting more signatures.

He said: “Thousands of people said they wanted to keep this site open so they have completely disregarded local people’s opinions. We should be expanding Beal Hey not closing it.

“We haven’t got £70,000 to spend on a judicial review but we will knock on every single door in Shaw until everyone has signed our petition.

“People still didn’t know about the threat of closure because the consultation was an absolute sham — a week asking a few people at the site and asking people in Oldham town centre about it.”

John Bland, treasurer of GMWDA, said: “I don’t believe this is an easy decision. I was asked if I could find savings from elsewhere, I am afraid the answer is no.”

David Taylor, director of contract services at GMWDA, said Beal Hey is constrained by its size as it is surrounded by private land and that there would be no space for extra containers.

Councillor Philomena Dillon, who lost a further amendment to take Chandos Street out of the closure proposals, said in the meeting: “We need a facility in East Oldham. We have to listen to the people that vote us in — that is what we do in a democratic country.

“We will have to find the money.”

Manchester councillor Charles Glover asked what the point of consultation was when the views were not listened to. He said: “Even if three of the 4,100 are Mickey Mouse views, the rest are still voting to keep a local service.”

Recycling sites in Prestwich and Heywood will also be closed in the cost-cutting exercise.

Beal Hey has had £200,000 spent on its refurbishment.

The matter will be brought back to the authority’s meeting on June 17 for final ratification.