New �2million recycling centre to serve Ottery

Sidmouth sites identified but facility will serve town

A RECYCLING centre serving Ottery will shut and be replaced with a �2million state-of-the art facility in Sidmouth or Sidford.

Residents will have to travel further to dispose of their rubbish after Devon County Council (DCC) revealed that Tipton St John’s Woods Farm will close in a bid to improve the service.

Three sites are being considered by the council to house a bigger and better facility to serve Ottery and Sidmouth. One earmarked spot is a mile away from the current service at The Bowd. Others are in Core Hill Lane and Two Bridges Road, Sidford.

“Sites are provided closest to nearest centre of population - so Sidmouth serves Ottery,” said a DCC spokesperson.

“The new location will serve residents from all the surrounding area, not just Sidmouth.”

She said Woods Farm last year dealt with 5,277 tonnes of rubbish, of which 76per cent was recycled.

She added Ottery residents disposed of 173 tonnes of waste in a rural skip in the town, provided in addition to Woods Farm, of which 51.9per cent was recycled.

DCC chiefs said last year the Woods Farm site was “not suitable to cope with increasing amounts of recyclable material.” Its planning permission expires in 2012.

The Herald reported how the district council had earmarked the site as a possible pitch to house gypsies and travellers, but the idea was scrapped.

DCC will stage a public exhibition at The Bowd Inn, from 3pm to 8pm, on Tuesday to gauge residents opinions over the proposed sites.