The Herald launched a Don’t Dump the Dump campaign in November, backing the widespread calls of residents and councillors to save Farnham’s tip after it was earmarked to close as part of Surrey’s latest cost-cutting measures.
And papers published ahead of next Tuesday’s Surrey cabinet meeting have revealed that, while four recycling centres across Surrey are still doomed to close, the Bourne Mill recycling centre in Farnham is no longer one of them.
Residents were asked for their feedback on proposed cuts to concessionary bus travel for disabled people, children’s centres, libraries, services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and waste and recycling services last October.
While many of the council’s proposed ‘service changes’ proved controversial, Surrey’s plans to close community recycling centres were particularly unpopular – with 12,000 of the 28,000 responses to the five consultations centred around cuts to tips.
Council chiefs will meet on Tuesday to consider the authority’s recommendations following the consultations, which ended at the start of January.
Four of Surrey’s 15 tips face the chop – in Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham – from April 1 if the proposals are approved, as do 31 of the county’s 58 children’s centres, including Elstead & Villages Sure Start centre, while funding for free bus travel for disabled people, libraries and SEND services also faces an uncertain future.
But a public outcry has apparently spared Farnham’s recycling centre, coming on the back of a hard-fought campaign by Farnham’s three county councillors Wyatt Ramsdale (Conservative), Andy MacLeod and Stephen Spence (both Farnham Residents).
In December they persuaded Surrey to hold a drop-in consultation event at Farnham Library, attended by an “overwhelming” number of residents, councillors and other representatives.
All three councillors also supported the Herald’s Don’t Dump the Dump campaign, while more than 2,500 people signed petitions objecting to the closure – with 414 signing the Herald’s paper petition and a further 2,200 signing West Street resident Yolande Hesse’s online petition at change.org
Hailing Surrey’s announcement this week, Mr Spence, county councillor for Farnham North, told the Herald: “It is great that Farnham community campaigning has resulted in a recommendation to keep the town’s recycling centre open. All those who came to the meeting in the library, everyone who completed the consultation document, those who signed the two petitions and the Herald which launched the Don’t Dump The Dump campaign, weren’t wasting their time.
“Of course it’s not done and dusted until the recommendation has been ratified, but the fact all three Farnham county councillors, including Conservative Wyatt Ramsdale, agree with this recommendation gives great hope of success. Wyatt is to be congratulated for the support he has given.
“We have many more difficult challenges in front of us, but on this issue it’s looking like the community saved the recycling centre.”
Mr Ramsdale, councillor for Farnham South and deputy cabinet member for environment and waste at Surrey, added: “I will be delighted if the robust views of the local councillors and people of Farnham have been listened to and we are indeed able to keep the community recycling centre (CRC).
“However, this does not reduce my thinking that Surrey and Waverley councils should look to move the CRC, and perhaps other services, to an out-of-town location where we can have a much safer, split-level CRC.”
Andy MacLeod, councillor for Farnham Central, also credited the Herald campaign for contributing to the tip’s reprieve, and commended residents and his fellow councillors for “a real team effort”.
He did, however, express concern at what happens next, commenting: “This is not a total and final victory, and it is clear we need a new recycling centre. Surrey needs to start drawing up plans for a better CRC, or the same problem will come up again.”
It comes as part of Surrey’s plans to bridge a budget gap of £200 million over the next three years, with the authority looking to save £82m over the next 12 months alone.
As well as these cuts, council tax is expected to go up by around three per cent in April.
In a statement, Surrey leader Tim Oliver recognised some of the changes “won’t be popular” but said the council has listened closely to residents, adding: “We have no choice but to take these difficult decisions.”
? See page three for more on Surrey’s proposed cuts to children’s centres and other services.