A letter from Cllr Will Rowlands, Executive Councillor for Environment, for residents and businesses.
Dear resident,
Once in a generation work at Waldo Road Depot, including anti-fire measures.
As you will be aware, the council will be carrying out much needed structural and maintenance works at the Waldo Road site. These works, which follow regulatory guidance from the Environment Agency about fire prevention measures, will start soon. The Waldo Road reuse and recycling centre will be closed to residents from Monday 3 February 2025 in order to undertake the work.
I apologise sincerely for the disruption that this will cause, however the closure is unavoidable. I feel it is only right that I be completely open about the reasons and the implications in the short term and the long term benefits they will bring. The work will ensure the site continues to meet the Environment Agency’s latest guidance, both relating to fire prevention and controlling the risk of pollution, thereby complying with the conditions of the operating permit.
It is important to note as well that during this closure period, we are supporting residents with additional garden waste disposal facilities and other mitigation measures, including additional capacity for bulky waste collections from your property.
As many of you who visit the tip will be aware, the Waldo Road site, which dates back to Victorian times, is in need of renovation to ensure our operations can continue effectively and safely. The improvement work will address this, installing fire prevention measures and renewing infrastructure such as the drainage. Residents may recall that last year, we had to close the site to the public due to collapsed drains. This planned work has been in the making for a number of years and our contractor, Guildmore have been appointed, and will begin work when the site closes to residents.
During the works, Waldo Road will continue to be used by Veolia, our waste management contractor, and remain as the borough’s main transfer station for recycling and household waste which is collected directly from residents. It is paramount that this aspect of the service is prioritised above all else and the work will not impact your household recycling and waste collections. For confirmation, our Churchfields Road site will remain open for residents to use, with a booking system helping ensure the site operates at its maximum efficiency and minimising possible congestion. Details for how to book a visit will be on the council’s website.
We are also upping our garden waste weekend satellite sites and bulky waste collections across the borough with details also on our website. The bulky waste collections will be prioritised for traders as we are unfortunately unable to take trade waste at Churchfields to begin with, due to lack of capacity and a statutory duty to prioritise residential waste over trade. As someone who relies on the trade waste service myself, I completely understand the frustration and disappointment this will cause, and I hope that by prioritising trade waste for bulky waste collections this will help to alleviate some concerns. The council website also has details of local skip hire firms which can be used. We have also reached out to neighbouring councils to allow residents to use their facilities during the works but sadly this wasn’t a viable option.
It is anticipated that the works to Waldo Road Depot will last for 13 months and once the work is finished, the borough will have a brand-new waste depot facility which will be safe and equipped for the future – thus also futureproofing the borough. Crucially as well, the work will also minimise reactive repairs and associated costs, which will be welcome news all round.
Thank you for your understanding - we will continue to stay in touch in the coming weeks and months and will be publishing regular updates throughout this important period.
Kind regards
Will
Cllr Will Rowlands
Portfolio Holder for Environment
Bromley Council