Castle Cary's community is voicing strong opposition to the potential closure of local recycling centres, fearing an uptick in fly-tipping that could mar the countryside and burden taxpayers.

Following Somerset Council's January proposal to shutter five of its 16 household waste recycling sites as a cost-saving measure, local sentiments have been fraught with concern over the environmental and economic repercussions.

Despite the council's revised budget approved on 20 February, which softened the initial closure plans, reducing accessibility to waste disposal facilities remains a hot-button issue. The prospect of closures has particularly alarmed Castle Cary residents and parish councillors, who foresee an increase in illegal waste dumping as the longer distances to the nearest operational centres may deter people.

BBC Somerset highlighted on 17 January that Castle Cary was among the five locations earmarked for potential closure, a move the council has yet to finalise pending commercial negotiations.

In response, Castle Cary local Drew Thompson spearheaded a petition against the closure of the Dimmer recycling centre, amassing over 1,600 signatures on Change.org.

Drew Thompson addressing the Somerset Council budget meeting in Bridgwater on February 20 (Image: Somerset Council)

Addressing Somerset's full council in Bridgwater, Thompson said: "We believe that the closure will increase fly-tipping in our beautiful Somerset countryside. This directly contradicts the council's goal of a 'greener, more sustainable Somerset'."

He further detailed the logistical challenges and potential environmental harm posed by the closures, stating, "Residents from those areas where site closures occur would need to travel further to their nearest operational site, would likely encounter longer queues to enter the sites caused by the condensing of the site network and may choose to fly-tip as a result of either the further commute or access congestion."

Thompson suggested that logically, centres with "overlapping catchment zones" such as Bridgwater, Crewkerne, and Street could be considered for closure to minimise resident impact. However, Councillor Steve Ashton, representing Crewkerne, countered this by emphasising the necessity of local recycling facilities for environmental stewardship and waste management efficiency.

Similarly, Councillor Peter Payne highlighted the contradiction of closing Williton's recycling centre amidst significant local housing development, stressing the facility's strategic importance for the area's growing population and infrastructure.

Councillor Christine Daubney voiced concerns over the potential closure's impact on Dulverton residents, pointing out the increased carbon footprint and logistical challenges of travelling to alternative sites.

Despite the outcry, Councillor Dixie Darch defended the need for cutbacks, citing financial pressures and the relative abundance of recycling centres in Somerset. Darch assured that any decisions on closures would be preceded by public consultation, acknowledging the importance of community feedback in the process.

Addressing fly-tipping risks, Darch noted, "Experience shows that householders rarely fly-tip. It tends to be rogue traders trying to avoid commercial charges - for them the proximity of a recycling site makes no difference."