Residents are concerned about traffic increases and the temporary nature of the site
LABOUR have announced a new recycling centre will be opened in Llanishen’s former tax office site on March 5.
The centre is a welcome development for residents of north Cardiff who previously had to travel to Bessemer Road in Grangetown or Lamby Way in Rumney to recycle.
Heath Councillor Graham Hinchey, who suggested the location, said: “When HMRC moved to the city centre I thought why not use the car park as a temporary recycling centre.
“Ultimately the plan is still to turn the offices into a school, but given this will take three to five years to complete it makes sense to use it for the centre.
“The car park has separate access from the south side and is large enough for 10 skips or so.”
Coun Hinchey explains the site will be based on need initially.
The Labour councillor said: “To begin with the site will only be open on the most busy day of the week, Saturday.
“The skips will be for the most popular items like wood, cardboard and plastic toys.
“We’ll then review the system on a regular basis to see what works best.”
But residents are concerned the centre will create traffic problems and wonder what will happen to it when the tax offices are turned into a new high school.
Llanishen resident Janet Hopkins, who used to work in the tax offices, said: “I’m sure having a recycling plant in north Cardiff will be very useful.
“But the traffic could tail back onto Ty Glas Road, particularly in the mornings.”
However, Coun Hinchey wants to assure people this should not be a problem.
The Labour councillor said: “The new centre will have a booking system which allows us to control the traffic flow around the site.
“Roughly 10 cars per hour will be allowed in.”
Tom Parkhill, Conservative councillor for Llanishen, said: “This is really welcome news after five years campaigning for a replacement centre.
“On an environmental basis it didn’t make sense to drive to the other side of Cardiff to recycle.
“However, this is not a long term solution as the buildings on site are due to be demolished.
“Overall it’s a positive development, albeit four years late.”
The centre will replace the Wedal Road site which was closed in 2018 as Labour look to make good on a broken promise.
In the 2017 local elections Labour assured Heath residents they would build a new recycling centre before the Wedal Road site closed, hence Councillor Parkhill’s comments.
The council did put some measures in place to mitigate their decision, such as offering free collection for bulky items to be taken to the skip. But a new centre was never built.
Labour’s announcement of the new recycling centre comes as a surprise to Llanishen’s residents and councillors as neither were consulted on the plan.
Coun Parkhill said: “The news came as a surprise really.
“There was no consultation despite spending a number of years campaigning on this issue.
“It was quite disappointing to not be briefed on the plan. But they haven’t consulted anyone, not even local residents who may have concerns.”
The centre did not require planning permission as it is temporary and located on council land.
Cardiff Council’s Capital Strategy for 2020/21 indicated plans to invest £200,000 in 2022–23 on a replacement tip in north Cardiff.
Coun Hinchey confirms the search for a permanent site continues.
