"The fight continues" - Robbie Moore MP's call for action as Bradford Council close tips

Local MP Robbie Moore has reacted to Bradford Council's closure of Golden Butts tip in Ilkley and Sugden End tip in Cross Roads:

Following this month’s budget vote, Bradford Council have now announced the closing date for both Golden Butts Tip in Ilkley and Sugden End Tip in Cross Roads as Easter Sunday, 31st March 2024.

I’m quite frankly furious that Council leaders and local Labour councillors chose to ignore over 10,000 of us who signed the ‘Save Our Tips’ petition and 13,000 who participated in Bradord Council’s Budget consultation - by actively voting to close them. To me, this makes a mockery of local democratic processes.

This included voting against a costed amendment put forward by our Conservative Councillors which would have kept both tips open and balanced the budget.

I will now be doing all I can to support the possibility of alternative operating models being put in place at both sites - which could allow the tips to reopen.

Essentially, this would mean someone else taking over control of the sites - be it our local Town Councils or a private operator.

But - we are unfortunately in the hands of Bradford Council - and any proposal would need to be subject to their approval.

Either way, my view on this is that there must be public consent for any proposals put forward and these proposals must be properly communicated to residents prior to a decision being made.

It’s therefore great to see our Conservative Councillors and lead petitioner Joanne Sudden already coming together to meet with representatives from other Waste Sites across Yorkshire to learn how such a solution could happen here. The fight continues...