Kirklees councillors are doubling down on their efforts to save Birstall’s Nab Lane tip, speaking of the “clear need and demand” to re-open the site.
The Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Nab Lane was permanently shut last year, with the shock move announced by Kirklees Council in August 2024 in a bid to save the local authority some cash. The tip was said to be the least-used in the whole of Kirklees and in need of a £7m investment.
Councillors from across the political spectrum have repeatedly raised serious concerns that the closure has exacerbated the problem of fly-tipping, and has placed a strain on Dewsbury’s Weaving Lane HWRC, among others, since it came into force.
Last week, a public meeting called by local Tory councillors was held to discuss the matter, with around 70 residents said to have been in attendance, alongside Kirklees councillors Josh Sheard (Con, Birstall and Birkenshaw), Mark Thompson (Con, Birstall and Birkenshaw), Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield), Liz Smaje (Con, Birstall and Birkenshaw), and Ali Arshad (Community Independents, Heckmondwike), as well as Morley Town councillor, Jim Aveyard.
Image: Josh Sheard
Following the meeting, Cllr Sheard said: “There is a clear need and demand for Nab Lane to be reopened. The council claims there is “no appetite” for a cross-border agreement, yet Bradford already has one with Leeds City Council, allowing Leeds residents to use Bradford’s Otley HWRC.
“Morley Town Council have already passed resolutions to work towards a cross-border agreement with Kirklees so Morley residents can use Nab Lane Tip. We now have key takeaway points from the meeting, and councillors for Birstall and Birkenshaw will be making enquiries and take action on them.
“To say there’s no appetite or no need to reopen Nab Lane is simply rubbish. The truth is, the only people saying ‘no’ are Kirklees Labour. Our message is clear: We will not be silenced. Nab Lane must reopen.”
Councillor Josh Sheard (Con, Birstall and Birkenshaw) had already called for cross-border talks to find a solution in a full council meeting, in the hopes that the Nab Lane site can be used by residents across multiple authorities. He called for Kirklees Council, Leeds City Council, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to work together on this.
At the time, the administration made its position clear, with Leader of the Council, Cllr Carole Pattison, saying she thought the chances of a regional agreement being reached to reopen the Nab Lane site were “absolutely zilch”. But this clearly hasn’t deterred the efforts of local councillors who hope to see the site up and running once more.
