Recycling campaign U-turn is welcomed in Keighley (From Keighley News)

Recycling campaign U-turn is welcomed in Keighley

12:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Keighley By Keighley News reporter

Campaigners are celebrating a decision to save a Keighley waste recycling centre from closure.

Sugden End tip at Cross Roads was earmarked to shut as part of sweeping Bradford Council cuts.

But the authority’s Labour leaders this week revealed the proposal has been shelved.

Opponents of the closure have hailed the U-turn as a “victory for common sense”.

The proposal sparked outrage among Worth Valley householders, who faced a trip across Keighley to use the Royd Ings Avenue recycling centre, and the Keighley News was inundated with letters.

Leading campaigner, Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, said: “The people of Worth Valley – and neighbouring Bingley Rural ward – have campaigned vocally to see the Sugden End site stay open, and it is right their concerns and subsequent efforts have been recognised.”

She said immense pressure had been placed on Coun Andrew Thornton, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and sport, and the wider Labour group.

“I think credit should be paid to Coun Thornton as it is not easy for politicians to reverse bad decisions, due to the stigma attached to taking U-turns,” she added.

“I am delighted he has seen fit to listen to residents and ward councillors, who recognised closing this site was not in the public interest.”

Haworth, Cross Roads & Stanbury Parish Council chairman, Coun John Huxley, said he was “very pleased”.

He added: “The idea people wanting to use the facility should instead travel from Worth Valley to the other side of Keighley was not well thought through.”

Coun Thornton said a government decision to pull the plug on more than £60 million of credit funding for a waste treatment scheme at Bowling Back Lane in Bradford had led to a review of the situation regarding recycling centres across the district.

He told the Keighley News: “As a result, we now have a different set of circumstances and have decided to hang fire, step back and consider what is required.”