Lib Dems to continue the fight to Save Prestwich Tip

Date published: 20 March 2011

Local Liberal Democrats have vowed to fight to save Prestwich Tip after the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority voted to close it.

The controversial decision to close the tip was made at GMWDA's meeting on 18 March. The meeting voted to continue with plans for the closure, ahead of further consultation and a final binding decision on 18 June.

Liberal Democrats in Prestwich have led the campaign to keep the Tip open, and presented a petitio to the GMWDA with hundreds of local signatures - signed in a few short weeks since the proposal became public knowledge.

Cllr Donal O'Hanlon, who presented a petition of over 700 Prestwich residents to the meeting said "This decision to close the tip is baffling and wrong. They have said that there'll be more consultation but our petition and the strength of local feeling couldn't have sent a clearer signal that this is not what people want.

The Lib Dems are angry that the GMWDA are closing the Tip despite an increase in budget this year.

Cllr O'Hanlon said "GMWDA has more money this year than last year! Surely there are other ways to save this relatively small amount of money?."

Campaigners believe that the closure will lead to an increase in fly-tipping and a decrease in recycling.

Cllr O'Hanlon said "This closure will make it much more difficult for people to recycle, and inevitably lead to more fly-tipping.

We will continue to fight this plan and hope that the GMWDA listen to local people before June 18th."

The petition, which continues, can be signed online at www.loveprestwich.com