A report to Dorset Council’s Cabinet will outline proposals to secure continued free access to Somerley Household Recycling Centre (HRC) for local Dorset residents.
Earlier this year, Hampshire County Council (HCC) informed Dorset Council about their plans to start charging non-Hampshire residents an entry fee for each visit to the site at Verwood Road in Somerley.
The Dorset Waste Partnership, and then Dorset Council, raised concerns that this would inconvenience local Dorset residents who live nearby, potentially causing them to drive a greater distance to their nearest free-access HRC in Wimborne, which could suffer increased costs and congestion as a result. This would also increase carbon emissions from longer vehicle journeys, contradicting developing plans for tackling climate change in the wake of Dorset Council’s Climate Emergency declaration last May.
Dorset Council ran a survey earlier this year, asking local Dorset residents for their views on HCC’s plans to charge non-Hampshire residents to visit Somerley. Most respondents indicated that they expected the two councils to resolve any issues to maintain the current level of free access local Dorset residents enjoy.
In July, the council’s Place Scrutiny Committee requested that a solution be found which doesn’t involve direct charging of visitors. Renewed talks took place last month, led by Dorset Council Leader Cllr Spencer Flower.
As a result, the latest report, that will be taken to Cabinet on Tuesday 5 November, makes the following recommendations: –
- Dorset Council provides additional funding to Hampshire County Council to secure continued free access to the HRC at Somerley for Dorset residents
- Officers will begin investigating the development of a new recycling and waste transfer facility in the East of Dorset
- A survey will be undertaken to determine the use of all Dorset Council HRCs by residents outside Dorset, to help inform the HRC review and future strategy.
The report will also outline similar arrangements to continue Dorset resident access to BCP Council’s HRCs at Millhams, Nuffield and Christchurch.
Cllr Tony Alford, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services at Dorset Council, said: –
“This is great news for Dorset residents in the East of the county, who made it clear how much they value the site at Somerley and that they expect councils to work together in the best interests of the taxpayer.
Through better cross-border working with both Hampshire County and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils, we can maintain current arrangements which are convenient for local residents, better for the environment and help alleviate pressure on our other household recycling centres.”
(Photo © Mike Faherty (cc-by-sa/2.0))
This release states “proposes continued free access to Somerley recycling centre” There isnt any mention of Hampshire agreeing to this. What happens next January 2020 ?
The proposals have been drawn up after talks with Hampshire County Council last month. If approved by Cabinet, Dorset residents will be able to access the site next year the same way they do now.
Thank you for dealing with the problem around the recycling site.it would be ridiculous to have to drive to Wimborne and my fear would be that people would dump their waste somewhere.
Has this now finally been resolved and will Dorset residents be allowed to use Somerley free of charge in 2020
We’re just sorting the background arrangements but yes, local residents will be able to continue using the Somerley HRC free of charge next year.
That’s good news as I’m sure there would have been a lot of fly dumping if a charge is made the men at the Somerley site are allways friendly an helpful.
Thank you ‘Dorset’ This is a good common sense outcome. Maybe you too have tried Wimborne instead. Nightmare access. Somerley site much more user friendly.
Great news for Verwood residents and I am sure it will help to keep the whole area as tidy and clean as it always is.
I have just read that Hampshire are asking their residents to register their vehicles with them to use the Somerley site and that vehicles not so registered will be charged £5 per visit. Number plates being captured by ANPR cameras. This scheme is to start shortly (April?)
So what has happened to the agreement to share the facility with adjacent Dorset residents?
Separate arrangements have been made for Dorset Council residents to register for continued free access to Somerley HWRC. Details of how to register will be available via Dorset Council website by Spring 2020.