RESIDENTS have been expressing their disgust over the responses from councils supporting plans for Arpley tip to remain open.

As reported in last week’s Warrington Guardian, five out of seven council leaders who had backed proposals for rubbish to be dumped for a further five years in Sankey Bridges went quiet when it came to visiting the site.

Leaders of St Helens, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton Council were invited by Warrington South MP David Mowat to visit Arpley but when asked for their response, all refused to comment.

Neighbours of the site have been particularly appalled as Warrington does not send any waste to landfill and are questioning why Merseyside and Halton cannot deal with their own waste.

Norman Crompton, member of the Arpley Landfill Opposition Group (ALOG), said: “I am disappointed to hear council leaders are not going to at least listen to why we want Arpley to close.

“It is their waste and therefore it should therefore be their responsibility, not ours.

“This landfill has been here for more than 26 years, taking waste from all over, but it is about time these councils began disposing of their own waste.

“Why don't they build a landfill site in their towns and cities? I bet there will be some objection to that!”

Councillors will be hand-delivering hundreds of letters to residents this weekend reminding them of the start of an inquiry on Tuesday after plans for rubbish to be dumped for a further 12 years were turned down.

Campaigners are being urged to protest outside the Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub from 9am when the inspectors arrive.

Clr Pat Wright (LAB - Bewsey and Whitecross) added: “We’re asking as many people as possible to join us on the first day and make it clear the whole town is against waste being imported to Warrington.”

We have drafted a letter for readers to send to council leaders supporting plans for the site to remain open to express their disgust.

Click here to download it. Arpley_Letter.docx

Letters should be e-mailed to  rob.polhill@halton.gov.uk, CllrBGrunewald-Leader@sthelens.gov.uk,  peter.dowd@councillors.sefton.gov.uk, ron.round@knowsley.gov.uk, phildavies@wirral.gov.uk, mayor@liverpool.gov.uk and mike.jones@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Alternatively you can print the letter off and send it to:
Clr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council, Runcorn Town Hall, Runcorn, WA7 1SA
Clr Barrie Grunewals, Leader of St Helens Council, c/o Town Hall, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1HP
Clr Peter Dowd, Labour Group Office, Town Hall, Oriel Road, Bootle, L20 7AE
Clr Ron Round, Leaders Office, PO Box 21, Archway Road, Knowsley, L36 9YU
Clr Phil Davies, Wirral Council, Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside, CH44 8ED
Mayor Joe Anderson, Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2DH
Clr Mike Jones, Cheshire West and Chester Council HQ, 58 Nicholas Street, Chester, CH1 2NP