The call to keep the George Street West Recycling Centre open claims people will be ‘less likely’ to travel a further distance, and would increase the risk of fly tipping in the borough.
The Blackburn tip, dubbed an “embarrassment” to the town by council leader Cllr Phil Riley, is to close, alongside its Darwen counterpart in Spring Vale Road.
They will be replaced by a single new household waste recycling centre between the two towns, which is just a 15-minute drive from the George Street site, and seven minutes from the existing Darwen centre, meaning for most residents in the borough, the journey time is unlikely to be much different.
The George Street West site is beset by long queues with people often waiting in their cars at busy periods, with the new site intended to slash these waits and increase the borough’s recycling rate.
The multi-million-pound plan was shelved in 2022 because of the cost-of-living crisis, but last week Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board put it back on the agenda.
Initially costed at around £5 million and now estimated at £7.7m, the purpose-built new HWRC will be located in Goose House Lane, Darwen.
MORE: Blackburn tip branded ‘an embarrassment’ by council leader
The petition, on Change.org, is entitled ‘Reconsider the relocation of Blackburn’s waste and recycling facility’.
It reads: “This move has significant implications for our community, particularly in light of the ongoing issue of fly tipping in Blackburn.
“The new proposed site is situated much farther from major residential areas, making it less convenient for many Blackburn residents to utilise.
“This distance disparity could result in fewer residents participating in recycling efforts, ultimately exacerbating the problem of waste management and fly tipping.
“The new location is considerably less accessible than the current one.
“The increased distance will also contribute to more traffic congestion in an already problematic area of the borough.
“This could result in negative environmental impacts from vehicle emissions and potential noise pollution; a significant impact on local air quality and the health of nearby residents is very probable.”
The petition by Mohammed Patel has been signed by more than 400 people within days of being launched.
It adds: “It’s imperative to suggest alternative locations that would be more appropriate for this facility.
“We need a site that is accessible to all the community, has minimal environmental impact, and reduces the risk of fly tipping.”
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board last week heard the changes were long overdue, with the George Street West tip no longer able to meet demand efficiently, with residents having to wait up to 45 minutes in queues of vehicles to use it at busy times.
The new centre is expected to achieve a 70 per cent recycling rate, with the potential to reach up to 78 per cent.
The business case anticipates potential annual savings and additional income of £600,000.