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Let residents decide the future of tip site

From the Falmouth Packet, first published Wednesday 28th May 2008.

Parish councils at the centre of a £1million offer from SITA to keep the United Downs landfill site open will let residents decide if they should accept.

Villages close to the United Mines landfill site near Redruth have been offered the cash if they agree it can stay open for another 18 months.

The dump run by SITA Cornwall was due to shut its gates in October 2010 however 400,000 cubic metres of space could be left at the site when it closes.

SITA Cornwall say rather than spending £1million to transport waste to another site, the money could be given to the local parishes for community projects.

Cathy Page, chair of Carharrack parish council, said councillors have not had any direct contact with SITA.

She said: "From the e-mails that have been flung about and from talking to people in the village the general consensus is people have had enough."

She said the decision is too big for the parish council to make and once more details and a formal offer are on the table they will call a public meeting.

Gwennap parish council has decided to contact every household in the parish before making any decision.

Irvin Herbert, chair of Gwennap parish council said: "What we have to do is find out what the community want.

"We expect they do not want it to stay open because of the discomfort and smell."

Stephen Edwards, clerk of St Day parish council said: "The general feeling is there needs to be a lot more information on exactly what the offer entails before people can sit down and discuss it.

"People want to know how the money would be shared out."

Louis de Poncheville, SITA Cornwall's general manager said the company would have to spend £1million transporting waste so why not offer this to the communities and prolong the lifetime of the landfill.

He said: "We are starting the work to close the site in 2010 but will change our plan if the community decide otherwise.

"The choice is not in our hands"

Carharrack resident Les Moulson said: "They must think the residents are complete dunderheads if they think we will listen to promises any longer.

"The one thing they could do to improve the quality of life for people here is to just to close it down."

District and county councillor Mark Kaczmarek called the offer an "indecent proposal" and called for SITA and county council officials to hold public meetings to debate the issue.

He said: "My view is enough is enough, but £1,000,000 is a lot of money."

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