West Berkshire tip situation isn't resolved, says Hampshire councillor

An East Woodhay parish councillor has insisted that the situation with the Newtown Road tip isn’t resolved.

North Hampshire residents have been required to pay £7 to use the household waste recycling centre (HWRC), which is in West Berkshire, since the beginning of August after Hampshire County Council stopped paying West Berkshire Council around £170,000 a year for its residents to access the tip.

The move means Hampshire residents face paying to use the Newtown Road tip or undergoing a 30-mile round journey to use the closest HWRC in Andover or Basingstoke.

At a parish council meeting last week, councillors heard from Hampshire county councillor Tom Thacker, who said the tip was now a “closed matter”, according to the county council cabinet.

However, parish councillor Mark Rand said there was “a lot of frustration” among residents and a feeling they were paying twice to get rid of rubbish.

He said: “It’s not been solved to our satisfaction – I don’t think it’s been closed as far as we’re concerned.

“People feel they’re paying twice.

“Once because it’s in our charge for Hampshire and twice because we also have to pay at the one in Newbury.

“Hampshire get our money but we don’t use it.”

Mr Thacker said the county council was having to find another £80m in savings over the next two years, and that non-Hampshire residents only paid £5 to use Hampshire tips.

He continued: “I’m just telling you what the cabinet members tell me.

“If Hampshire paid West Berkshire it would be the Hampshire tax payers paying.

“It’s really difficult and yes I understand and will make the point that you don’t consider the matter resolved but I don’t think it’s going to change.”