Options explored to partially reopen Wombourne household waste recycling centre

Wombourne residents are being reminded to continue to use neighbouring Bilbrook household waste recycling centre as the county council explores options to partially reopen their site.

The Wombourne site had to close for safety reasons in early March after subsidence was found at the site in early March. It is on the site of an old quarry and the initial investigations at the site revealed that the subsidence has occurred near what was once the quarry face.

The quarry was filled back in to create a new surface for the household waste recycling centre, but some of the ground now appear to have moved. Work will continue over the next fortnight to make sure the team can confirm which areas of the site are unaffected and whether there is a section of the site can be reopened.

Safety of residents is the main priority, so in the meantime people are being asked to use the Bilbrook household waste recycling centre which is a 25-minute drive away. The options of using neighbouring authorities as an alternative is also being investigated.

Simon Tagg, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change, said:

The household waste recycling team is looking to partially reopen the Wombourne site, but only if and when it's safe to do so. The site is located over a former quarry which has caused the issue and unfortunately led to its closure.

Public safety is the main priority. We're continuing to explore options and are close to finding a solution and find a way forward.

We'd again like to apologise for the inconvenience during this temporary closure period."

Household waste can still be taken to nearby Bilbrook HWRC, which is 10 miles from Wombourne, at Pendeford Mill Lane, Codsall, WV8 1RR.