Romsey residents say closing Casbrook tip would be 'disastrous'

Hampshire County Council’s proposal to close smaller tips such as Casbrook Household Waste Recycling Centre in Timsbury, to bridge a £132m shortfall has come under fire.

Casbrook in Bunny Lane, has been listed as one of the tier three locations as a smaller site that is “operationally challenging” and where investment would be needed to stay open.

To save money, the county council is proposing either closing all the tier four sites such as Alresford and Bishop’s Waltham or tier four and three sites (which would include Casbrook) or keeping all the sites open.

Casbrook tip (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Brian Musk, 70, of Northlands Road, Whitenap, said: “It would be a disaster if Casbrook closed. We would see a tremendous amount of fly-tipping and it’s bad enough already.

“I don’t think the council considers anything other than costs when they make these decisions. They’re not taking anyone else’s views into account.”

Brian Musk (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Regular Romsey visitor, Jane Terris, a midwife from Woodlands, aged 60, said: “Closing the rubbish tips locally will have an absolutely detrimental effect on people’s ability and willingness to travel to the tip.

“We will inevitably have an increase in fly-tipping and more rubbish out with the refuse and the collectors will be overwhelmed. People won’t be willing to travel even if there is still one within five miles. Once they close them they can’t reopen them.”

Sylvia Reed (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Sylvia Reed, 90, of The Harrage in Romsey, said: “It’s going to be far more inconvenient for a lot of people. There will be more stuff being dumped elsewhere too.”

Daniel Kingston, 46, a trainee therapist from Rownhams who used to live in Romsey, said: “It would be really bad. It’s a long way for people to go elsewhere. There might be lots of people dumping on the streets. It’s not very responsible of the council, it’s best they keep it open.”

Daniel Kingston (Image: Adele Bouchard)

The county council recognises that more people would be impacted if both tier three and four sites were shut but the authority says 93 per cent would still have a recycling centre within seven miles of their home.

Casbrook is one of seven tier-three sites, with others including Aldershot, Bordon, Hedge End, Marchwood, Petersfield and Somerley.

If Casbrook closed the nearest waste and recycling centres for Romsey residents would be Winchester or Eastleigh.