Council agrees to Lib Dem request to reopen Community Recycling Centres

Following a request from the Lib Dems, Surrey County Council will start a phased reopening of its Community Recycling Centres on 11th May.

With fly tipping increasingly becoming an issue across Surrey, last month Lib Dem Councillors asked the Council to reopen local tips. This was supported by latest Government advice which said that Household Waste Recycling Centres can be open provided appropriate social distancing measures are in place.

In the first phase the County Council will only open a limited number of Recycling Centres, and these will only accept green garden waste and residual black bag waste to keep visits as short as possible. There will be restrictions on the number of visitors allowed and it is likely traffic marshals will manage vehicles queuing outside.

From Monday 11th May, eight Recycling Centres - including the two that serve Woking residents at Martyrs Lane and Slyfield - as well as ones at Chertsey, Earlswood, Epsom, Leatherhead, Shepperton and Witley will reopen. They will operate 9 am to 6 pm, seven days a week.

The Camberley and Farnham Community Recycling Centres will also reopen on 11th May, but run 9 am to 4 pm, seven days a week. The Centres at Bagshot, Caterham, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham will remain closed for the time being.

Will Forster, Lib Dem County Councillor for Woking South, said:

"I am delighted the County Council has listened to the Lib Dems and is set to reopen many of Surrey's Recycling Centres. For some time now we have been concerned that the tips being closed was the cause of increased fly tipping, yet Government advice was that they could be open. The Council has now thankfully listened and is in the process of reopening these much needed facilities."