Cheltenham's 'long-loved' Swindon Road depot to close as council ponders tip's future

Cheltenham’s “long-loved” Swindon Road tip will close on January 10 - possibly for good. Cheltenham Borough Council leaders agreed last night (Tuesday, November 26) for the household recycling centre to undergo a prolonged closure to consider the site’s long term future.

The council will look at options including an assessment of the depot and the potential for finding a cost-effective solution for the site with Gloucestershire County Council (GCC). Council leaders also agreed that the authority will stop providing a direct commercial waste service to businesses in the spa town from a date yet to be decided.

Councillor Izaac Tailford (LD, All Saints) said changes to environmental regulations mean the Swindon Road site needs an entire new surface and kerbing at the site to avoid the leeching of chemicals in the ground should there be a fire. He said new covered storage areas are also needed as well as new permits and this could all cost a total of £1m.

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Cllr Tailford said they needed to review the service given these potential costs and its ongoing yearly running cost of more than £600,000.

“I’m aware this is an incredibly controversial thing to consider for such a long loved site which is why I want to be open and honest about the process, the problems and our potential ways forward,” he said.

Cllr Tailford said the Borough is the only one in the country to provide such a site and they would contact GCC for a face to face meeting to explore the possibility of them running the site as soon as possible. He said they are happy for GCC to use their land if they take on the work and running of it.

“We want to work with them to find a solution that works for the residents of Cheltenham,” he said.

Cabinet also agreed to help residents who may need more recycling receptacles to enable them to present more recycling at the kerbside rather than taking it to the household recycling centre or recycling bring banks.

They agreed a reduction in the delivery charges enabling residents to have up to three items for £4.99 and up to six items for £9.98 rather than £4.99 per item with effect from January 1, 2025.

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