CONCERNS for the future of the Farnham community recycling centre (CRC) have fuelled rumours of a potential relocation to the Runfold Quarry.

Surrey County Council completed a public consultation on the future of the county’s CRCs recently, asking for the public’s thoughts on four cost-cutting options to either reduce opening times, days of operation, charge for non-household waste or close recycling centres entirely.

However, the proposals have been dismissed by opposition councillors as having the potential to increase fly-tipping across the county and concern has been expressed specifically for the future of the Farnham CRC in Guildford Road.

Pat Frost, the Mayor of Farnham and county councillor for Farnham Central, addressed the issue at the annual meeting of the South Farnham Residents Association.

She said: “No decision about Surrey’s recycling centres has been made, but the county council has to save another £70 million this year and it is looking at every service.

“The Farnham recycling centre is not fit for purpose and even dangerous. We have a growing elderly population, and to ask people to climb those rickety stairs is not good.

“I have told the council’s environmental department that we have got to have a new CRC in Farnham and their response was that there is no land available. However, the SITA site by Barfield School in Runfold is being reclaimed and would provide plenty of room for a recycling centre.

“I’m working on that option, but one thing is clear, we will not close the Guildford Road site until there is an alternative. In the meantime I want the existing CRC made safer for the people who go there.”

Mrs Frost’s comments came after the Lib Dem opposition at County Hall called on Surrey’s leadership to reconsider plans to cut back CRC services.

Presenting a motion to last Tuesday’s meeting of the full council, deputy leader of the Lib Dems opposition group John Orrick said any reduction in operating hours or days, charging for non-household materials or the closure of sites would inevitably increase fly tipping across the county.

He said: “The wording of the consultation only gave unacceptable options that would make it more difficult for residents to recycle or dispose of waste at Surrey’s tips. It gave no opportunity for residents to say that the tips should stay the same or improve.

“Fly-tipping is already a big problem in Surrey with rubbish being dumped on land and roads.

“Not only is it a blight on Surrey’s beautiful countryside, but it is hugely costly for landowners such as the National Trust, as well as district and borough councils, to clear up the mess. These so-called ‘savings’ would just push the costs onto others.”

Responding to the motion, Surrey’s cabinet member for environment and planning Mike Goodman resisted the Lib Dems’ calls to reject all four options for the future of CRCs as set out in the consultation, but did promise to consider “any other options that the cabinet considers relevant” before arriving at a decision.

He added Surrey has invested £9 million in CRCs over the last seven years and has some of the best recycling centres and recycling rates in the UK, of which the council is “proud”.

Mr Goodman also denied that changes to the operation of CRCs would result in an increase of fly-tipping, pointing to Surrey’s commitment to produce a Surrey-wide fly-tipping strategy later this year in partnership with local authorities, the Environment Agency and the police.

Speaking at the meeting in Kingston, county councillor for Farnham South, David Munro welcomed Mr Goodman’s commitment to consider other options and urged the council to invest in the Guildford Road CRC.

He said: “Surrey has a proud record of investing heavily in CRCs. Some are marvellous, but unfortunately some are not, and this is particularly the case in Farnham - albeit for a very good reason; the shortage of real estate.

“I request that when the cabinet considers this, we make a pledge to upgrade every one of our CRCs.

“I appreciate this would commit us to a massive investment and the money is not there at the moment. But the mere aspiration would go a long way towards reassuring residents that we take recycling and waste management as seriously as they do.”

The Farnham CRC is open throughout the winter (October 1 to March 31) seven days a week, from 8am to 4.15pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4.15pm at weekends. The centre accepts most household waste but not asbestos or business waste.