Dorset Council is looking for feedback on its plans to construct a modern waste management centre for Blandford, which will also include a new household recycling centre for residents.
The new facility, to be built to the south of Sunrise Business Park, will replace the existing site located on Blandford Heights Industrial Estate.
The current household recycling centre (HRC) at Blandford is difficult for some residents to use and unable to meet the demands of the expanding service operated by Dorset Council.
The waste transfer barn – where waste collected at the kerbside is taken before it is transported to recycling and treatment facilities – is currently an adapted grain store and in poor condition.
Both the HRC and barn share one point of access and cannot accommodate vehicles delivering waste material, the bulkers who take this away for treatment, and traffic queuing to use the household recycling centre. This currently causes temporary site closures and disruption to neighbouring businesses by blocking access during the busiest periods each day.
The HRC will be a split level, removing the need to climb steps and be easily accessible to residents of Blandford and surrounding villages. Household collection vehicles and bulkers transporting material from the new site will be able to access the transfer barn without impacting HRC traffic. It is not thought the operation of the new waste management centre will negatively affect residents or businesses.
Dorset Council’s waste team (previously known as the Dorset Waste Partnership) have recently designed and built four replacement sites across the county and used their experience when devising these plans to maximise development potential while limiting the impact on the surrounding natural environment.
The proposals for Blandford are similar to the highly successful and award-winning Bridport Waste Management Centre which the Council opened in 2015.
View the official webpage for the proposed facility
This webpage also provides a link to an online survey where residents can submit feedback on the plans. These submissions will be collated and included in the planning application. The deadline for responses is Monday 18 January.
There will also be virtual meetings with residents on Wednesday 13 January (10am and 6:30pm) where officers will be happy to discuss the proposals with residents and answer any questions. Details on how to get involved in these sessions can also be found on the webpage.
Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services said:
“We’re delighted to be able to present these plans for Blandford’s new Waste Management Centre and gather feedback from residents. Blandford’s current facilities have needed updating for some time and I’m sure people will be interested to see what we have planned.
It’s important that we consider the views of the people who currently use the household recycling centre, as well as local businesses and others who may be based in the area. Please head over to the website, have a look at the details and make sure you tell us what you think of the proposals.”
The only problem at the tip is when people who only have garden waste cause a bottle neck going in. This is because they sit and wait for a space to park next to garden waste, even though they could park around the corner and carry their waste.
Maybe this could policed ?
Brilliant plan! Away from residential and business premises. The existing plant should not have been located where it is. Too near the Damory Estate and business premises.
Long over due the current site is too small,has access issues ( site has to be closed down when skips need to be picked up and replaced causing traffic jams)
At full capacity the waste streams become mixed causing problems for the green waste recycler ( household mixed with green)
A new felicity built to the same design as the Bridport site would forefill the requirements needed to meet Blandford’s growing population.
PS I work for the local recycling company.