Ludlow waste site to close despite public outcry

The decision to axe the Coder Road Amenity Skip and Household Recycling Centre was announced this week, despite a petition signed by 2,000 people.

Campaigners described the decision as "appalling" – but Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has revealed recycling alternatives are already being considered for the site.

He said he had attended a meeting with anaerobic digester operators Cwm Harry, based in Newtown in Mid Wales, along with prospective Ludlow councillor Anthony Bevington.

The social enterprise firm uses digesters to recycle food waste and create electricity to help power the National Grid.

Mr Dunne said: "I know many local people will be disappointed that Coder Road will no longer continue in its current format. So I am pleased that Anthony Bevington took the initiative and asked me to arrange a meeting between Cwm Harry and Shropshire Council officials to try and find a solution.

"This was a very productive meeting, and I hope that through further meetings an agreement can be made to allow Cwm Harry to explore alternative options for Coder Road."

Mr Bevington added: "I knew local residents wanted something done so I asked our local MP to arrange a meeting with all the relevant parties to help try and resolve this situation.

"Working with Shropshire Council and our local MP I am hopeful that Cwm Harry will secure an option to allow them time to develop alternative recycling opportunities on the Coder Road site."

It comes after Shropshire Council cabinet member Councillor Steve Charmley, who finally pulled the plug on the site at a meeting on Tuesday evening, said closure was the "most appropriate" option for the site.

He said scrapping the under-performing site would save the council £100,000.

A decision on the tip's future was put off last October after the petition, but a second round of consultation, which ended at Christmas, only got 112 responses.