NORTHFIELD Conservative MP, Gary Sambrook is urging his constituents to sign a petition against re-purposing Cofton Park Nursery as a council refuse site as a temporary replacement for the nearby Lifford Lane Household Recycling Centre (HRC).
As Birmingham City Council explores their options for a replacement of the Lifford Lane HRC, whilst it is closed for refurbishment, Gary Sambrook MP fears that Cofton Park will be used as an alternative.
The council has announced Lifford Lane will be shut for up to two years so it can be modernised.
In a letter to the city council, Mr Sambrook has suggested that instead the council works with neighbouring Worcestershire to enable people to use the household recycling centre in Romsley, managed by Bromsgrove District Council.
He has also called for the council to increase the number of mobile recycling unit visits to the area to help ensure his constituency is kept clean, tidy and fly-tip-free while Lifford Lane HRC is under redevelopment.
The Northfield MP fears the use of Cofton Park as a household recycling centre will cause issues for local residents including noise around a highly residential area, as well as risks of queues and traffic.
Mr Sambrook MP added: “The temporary refuse tip has to go somewhere but it would be much better if local councils worked together using existing infrastructure rather than disrupting a perfectly lovely park and well-liked nursery.
“We need to make sure the city council understands the feelings of local residents and I encourage everybody to sign the petition.”
In response to the MP’s letter, Birmingham City Councillor, Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment, said: “A contingency HRC will be provided during the programme of works and Lifford will not close until the contingency is up and running.
“This redevelopment scheme is a vital part of our ongoing plan to modernise and improve waste management in this city – and we know it is important we get the contingencies and mitigations right.
“No feasible or realistic option will be left unconsidered, so we get the best location for the temporary solution.
“I can reassure you that we plan to continue delivering our Mobile Household Recycling Centres and are looking at an uplift in visits to the areas within the catchment area for the Lifford HRC.”
Birmingham City Council also clarified that their HRC booking system ‘eliminates’ queues and traffic at their centres.
Visit: garysambrook.co.uk/campaigns/save-cofton-park-becoming-refuse-tip to sign the petition.
