Proposed closure of tip prompts fly-tipping fears

Residents fear proposals to close a household waste recycling centre (HWRC) permanently could lead to more fly-tipping in the area.

Calderdale Council said that shutting the site on Huddersfield Road in Elland could save the Labour-run authority around £150,000 per year.

A council report said an alternative proposal to close all five of the district's tips for two days a week could save even more money from 2026.

Councillor Danielle Durrans, the council's member for public services and communities, said: "It's with regret that we have to either close Elland tip or reduce the opening hours of all the tips."

Lindsay and Sue Tiller regularly use the tip in Elland and said the staff who work there were "friendly" and "helpful".

Mr Tiller said: "The impact is obvious; there's so much fly-tipping around, and closure would just encourage people to not get rid of their waste in the appropriate manner."

He added: "I do litter picking in the spring, and you start off with a few crisp packets and bottles and then you find someone's refurbished a bathroom and then you've got a toilet and goodness knows what."

Mrs Tiller agreed and said that keeping all of the household waste sites open for only five days a week would be a better option and "manageable" for users.

Jo Stocking, 67, is a carer for her disabled granddaughter and said if the Elland site closed she would have to travel to another tip elsewhere.

She said: "That would mean I'd have to get a carer in to look after her, whereas at the moment it is there and convenient and the staff are always really helpful.

"There are a lot of people who use it, generally when I go you've got to queue even during the daytime during the week."

Ms Stocking also welcomed the proposal that all sites moved to five-day opening and added: "I've seen in the report the council would be able to save more money that way, rather than closing an individual tip, and it gives people more chance to tip rubbish instead of having it outside their house waiting for the refuse collection, which is alternate weeks."

Pensioner Linda Humes was concerned about the financial impact the closure could have on residents in Elland.

She said: "It will cost people more money as they're going to have to drive out to these other places.

"It will be really sad if it closes, not everyone has cars or has the money to pay for the petrol."

She added that she had recently used the household waste site in Brighouse, which was "busy" and operated a queue system. She spent 40 minutes waiting for entry.

It is the second time that closing the Elland centre has been suggested, with councillors arguing last year that the town was close enough to other facilities.

However, the site was saved after a public outcry. Opponents claimed that closure would result in more traffic on the roads, bigger queues at other centres and more fly-tipping.

Calderdale Council introduced a residents' permit scheme in July 2024 to ensure all tips can only be used by people who live in Calderdale.

The local authority said this had resulted in lower usage of Elland's tip due to people in neighbouring Kirklees not being able to use the facility.

The closure option has now been put to Cabinet members, along with the alternative proposal of reducing opening hours from seven days to five at all sites.

Durrans added: "The council is under immense pressure to make savings in our budget due to unprecedented financial challenges and increasing demand for our limited resources."

The Cabinet will meet to discuss both proposals on 13 January.

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