Stockport Liberal Democrats have today called for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to urgently review its policy of temporary closure of all the local tip sites across the borough. With less regular normal refuse collection services currently operating, many residents are concerned about possible increases in fly tipping creating a health hazard. Local council tip sites in Stockport were a well used facility in the community but were closed overnight as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Town Hall, said “We are calling for an urgent review of the tip closure decision. While the health and well-being of all staff members remains our first concern, other local authorities have been able to re-open their tips for public use and we believe that – with proper safeguarding measures in place – it should be possible for Stockport to do the same.

“This would be a massive boost for gardeners and those with additional household waste alike”.

Cllr Charles Gibson, added: “Whilst we supported the decision to close the Household Waste Recycling centres as a temporary measure, it is now clear that the government’s lockdown is going to remain in place for some time to come and there has been ample opportunity for the contractors to find safe ways of operating our recycling centres, as is the case in other places such as Sheffield, and there has already been a huge rise in fly tipping across Greater Manchester.

“We call on the Combined Authority to re-open the Household Recycling Centres as a matter of urgency.”