Lib Dem Disbelief at Recycling Centre Closures

The Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall has reacted with shock and astonishment at the Cabinet Member's decision to go ahead with his decision to close the St Osyth and High Ongar Recycling Centres.

This flies in the face of the recommendation of the Economic Development, Environment and Highways Policy and Scrutiny Committee of 17 November that the Cabinet Member reconsider his original decision pending a scrutiny review into other options.

This urgent scrutiny review was to consider the evidence given at that recent meeting by the local Members, the petitioners and the 'call in' witnesses. It would also include the wider operations of RCHWs inEssex, with a requirement to report before the Cabinet Member's stated latest decision date of early January 2012.

County Councillor Mike Mackrory, who 'called in' the original decision said:

"This is a slap in the face for the local communities of St Osyth and High Ongar who worked so hard in collecting the thousands of petition signatures and who constructively presented their case to the Committee in such detail."

Brentwood County Councillors David Kendall and Barry Aspinell gave the following reaction to the news:

"By making this decision the Conservative Cabinet Member Cllr Kevin Bentley has not only ridden roughshod over the wishes of the members sitting on the Scrutiny Committee but more importantly he has totally ignored the petitions and representations made by over 3,000 residents against the closure of these two sites. Members and residents will be left asking the question "What is the point of the review process if the cabinet member isn't going to listen"?

"All the Lib Dem and Conservative members voted for the review with the only one against being the Labour member from Harlow. What a sad day for the democratic process".