Rory optimistic about recycling sites win

Rory has said that he is “optimistic” that the three recycling sites in Penrith and the Border that are potentially affected by Cumbria County Council’s consultation into their future will remain open, albeit he expects with reduced opening hours.  He  has held numerous meetings with community representatives from Wigton, Brampton and Kirkby Stephen, to discuss the impact on their communities that any closures would have. He has pressed the County Council hard to keep the sites open, most recently through two meetings, which he convened in Carlisle, with representatives from Wigton, Brampton and Kirkby Stephen, to  communicate to their views to Councillor Lawrence Fisher of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group (set up to look at the recycling centres).

Rory says that he is now 99 per cent confident that it will be possible to keep all the sites open, commenting: “The community demonstrations have had a real impact. The recent meetings I have held with

representatives of the affected sites in Penrith and the Border, have  allowed communities to analyse the budgets and make detailed proposals. I think we have convinced the County Council to keep these sites open. The

fall-back option would have been for communities to run the site themselves, either in partnership with local private organisations, or  through existing democratic bodies such as parish and town councils. However, I am now very optimistic that the sites will remain open, operating as they are now but with reduced hours. This would of course be enormously welcome to the many, many residents of those communities who have given up many valuable hours to meet with me and with others in their campaign to ensure our recycling sites do not close. I am extremely pleased to be able to report that our meetings have had such a positive outcome.”