LAND for a fit-for-purpose recycling centre in south Warrington will be allocated in the local plan – but Sandy Lane tip could close before it opens.

The town’s three community recycling centres (CRCs) are located in Stockton Heath, on Sandy Lane, Gatewarth, on Barnard Street, and Woolston, on New Cut Lane.

In December, council chiefs halted the planned closure of Stockton Heath Recycling Centre to allow for time to explore options to reduce its operating costs.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden was pressed on whether a new site will be developed in the south, if Sandy Lane tip closes, during Tuesday’s leader’s forum at Whitecross Community Centre.

He said: “In terms of community recycling centres, I think if we are being honest, if you were starting again and wanted to site CRCs in Warrington it wouldn’t be in the three locations we have got.

“Stockton Heath, particularly, is too small.

“You have got traffic queueing up there, which is a problem in terms of air quality for people, and environmentally it is not up to the best, modern standards.

“Also, the types of material that can be taken to Stockton Heath to be recycled are limited as well.

“The local plan does make a commitment about a new, fit-for-purpose, modern CRC in the south of Warrington.”

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But Cllr Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) admitted the new facility might not be operating before the Stockton Heath facility shuts.

He said: “Ideally, you would want that to be available before Stockton Heath is withdrawn but it might be that Stockton Heath has some environmental permit issues that will overtake the council’s plans.”

Cllr Bowden, who was sat alongside deputy leader Cathy Mitchell and council chief executive Steven Broomhead, also admitted the authority ‘doesn’t always get stuff right’.

But he insists he will be delivering a new approach while in the top job at the Town Hall, particularly throughout the local plan process as the borough firmly sets its sights on delivering the ‘right homes in the right places’.

He said: “In terms of engagement over the local plan, over the last 18 months, by not having these kinds of conversations there has been a lot of misunderstanding and sometimes misinformation about the local plan.

“What I want to do is change it around and talk about what the council has to do in a local plan.

“It is a legal obligation for the council to set a local plan and the Government is going to hold our feet to the flame over delivering housing in Warrington.

“This should be an opportunity for us to talk about what the future is for Warrington – what these houses mean for people in Warrington.”

And Cllr Bowden was keen to thank residents for turning up to the event to press him on key issues.

He added: "I was very pleased with the first leader's forum.

"We had a great turnout and covered a wide range of topics.

"People got the answers to their questions in a more relaxed setting.

"This is about engaging with me and holding me to account.

"It is a great way for Warrington residents to access democracy and the feedback after the event has been extremely positive.

"The issues raised tonight are clearly important to residents. 

"I was able to dispel some of the myths about the local plan process and that is a topic that will gain interest as we move towards issuing the draft plan for consultation.

"We need this level of engagement to share the issues, improve understanding and to develop a shared vision for Warrington.

"On the basis of tonight’s meeting, I am already planning some additional leader's forums ahead of the public consultation phase."