Bradford Council’s Reform administration has been accused of sending mixed messages over whether the closure of household waste recycling centres has led to an increase in fly-tipping.
The criticism follows conflicting statements made during the authority’s first full council meeting since Reform took control following May’s local elections.
In his first Leader’s Report, Council leader Cllr Stephen Place blamed the previous Labour administration for a rise in illegal dumping. He told councillors: “Incidents of fly tipping have risen exponentially whilst household waste recycling sites were closed.”
However, at the same meeting, the Reform Executive gave a written response to a councillor stating there was “no direct evidence” linking recycling centre closures to fly-tipping.
The response came after Reform cllr Dawn Thewlis (Keighley West) asked what action was being taken to tackle fly-tipping, arguing that the closure of the Sugden End household waste recycling centre near Keighley was believed to have contributed to increased dumping in the area.
The Executive said the council was exploring the possibility of reopening Sugden End using funding awarded to improve recycling services. But it added: “In relation to fly-tipping, there is no direct evidence linking Household Waste Recycling Centre usage levels with fly-tipping volumes. Despite previous site closures, the remaining HWRCs continue to experience increased visitor numbers and waste tonnages.
“Fly-tipping incidents also occur in areas surrounding operational HWRCs and typically involve commercial waste, bulky items, or DIY-related materials.”
The apparent contradiction was highlighted by Conservative cllr George William Buckley (Airedale).
He told the meeting: “In the Leader’s report he says that fly tipping has ‘risen exponentially whilst household waste recycling sites were closed’.
“I agree, it has, it’s a terrible situation. Yet his portfolio holder responded to a written question by one of his own councillors saying there is no direct evidence linking HWRC usage to fly tipping. Should the Leader not have checked this, and what do they actually believe?”
Cllr Place responded: “I’ll have to come back to you on that – I haven’t read it.”
