Richborough Chaos

What is the issue?

KCC are going to consult on closing 4 household waste sites in Kent including Richborough. The Consultation document is fundamentally flawed as all 3 options have Richborough to be closed without any alternative option to keep Risborough open.

Why Richborough?

There is not any rational reason to close Richborough, apart from questionable cost saving.

What will the immediate impact be?

Richborough is well utilised, and closure would put pressure on the other sites in the District. As well as adding many more miles for residents to travel, adding cost and damaging the environment.
What will the cost saving be?
The cost saving on closing all 4 sites proposed is 1.5m an insignificant sum in relation to KCC’s budget 2bn.

What will happen to the sites?

The sites themselves will be very difficult to redevelop to other use i.e. Contamination, the most likely outcome is they will be mothballed.

What will happen to the staff?

They will be made redundant. If they can’t be redeployed.
What will happen if we need more sites in the future?
Waste sites are understandably very difficult to establish so if this site was lost establishing a new would be expensive and very unpopular.

Why we need to retain all our waste sites?

The Extended producer responsibility policy that is being promoted by the Government is effectively going to be a tax on producers on their packaging with a tax which will be paid to local authorities to provide waste services, we are going to need more waste sites not less.

What does the controlling group at DDC say?

Cllr Kevin Mills, Leader of Dover District Council, said:

“We’re urging KCC to urgently rethink these plans, which are counterproductive both to the environment and cost saving. Whilst we appreciate the pressure on KCC’s budget they should be seeking to protect the key services on which people rely.

“Residents are rightly concerned that these cuts will lead to yet more fly-tipping, and the costs associated with clearing it up, and send the wrong message when districts and boroughs are working hard to promote recycling and waste reduction.”