Recycling centre closes for last time

BEAL HEY Recycling Centre closed its doors for the final time on Saturday — and staff were wished a heartfelt thanks.

The facility in Chandos Street, Shaw, was axed as part of cost-cutting measures by the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority. (GMWDA)

Councillors who helped Councillor Mark Alcock’s campaign to try to save the site from closure presented staff with a thank you card and chocolates.

Councillor Alcock said: “We are appalled that even though over 5,100 local residents signed a petition to keep Beal Hey open and hundreds marched through Shaw in protest, the site was still closed.

“Over 80,000 Oldham borough residents will lose the only household waste recycling centre site they have in their area.

“Oldham will have only one at Arkwright Street which is around a two-hour round trip for the residents of Shaw to access.

“All these arguments were totally ignored and the authority just voted the closure through.

“This is a dark day for the residents of Shaw and Crompton and other local residents.”