Plans to close Shepshed tip

Leicestershire County Council are considering closing Shepshed's household waste and recycling site as part of plans to save money. Closing three recycling and household waste sites which are comparatively expensive to run or are relatively close to other sites is part of proposals to be discussed at Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet. 

Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet will discuss the plans at a meeting on Tuesday (24 October). If approved, local people will be asked to have their say on the plan which would save £420,000 by: 

- Closing three sites - Market Harborough, Shepshed and Somerby 

- Changing the opening days at Bottesford and Melton Mowbray  

- Closing all sites on Christmas Eve  

- Changing summer opening hours at all recycling and household waste sites 

Leicestershire County Council says it needs to save £90m by 2026, and has forecast that it will overspend by £9m this year because of the rising costs of social care. 

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and green agenda, said: “We’re doing the best we can with the money we have and we’re super-efficient, but there’s growing pressure and we need to make savings where we can. 

“Our recycling and household waste sites are located and open to best serve residents. Proposing to close these sites isn’t easy, but I want to be clear that no decisions have yet been made. We really want people to tell us what they think of these plans. 

“We’re focusing on sites that are relatively expensive to run and have practical, viable alternative locations for those who use them.” 

The council runs 14 waste sites but says Somerby and Shepshed cost the council significantly more per visit because they are less popular and both account for just 5 per cent of all waste taken. 

The proposed closure of three waste sites would save £270,000 per year, with the change in summer opening hours saving a further £150,000 per year. 

The council’s cabinet will discuss the proposals at 2pm on 24 October – watch online at: www.leicestershire.gov/webcast
 
If approved a 12-week consultation is intended to begin in November.