By now, some of you will no doubt have heard about the debate around the waste transfer site. It’s been a big topic of conversation, and I’d like to take this opportunity to explain our thinking about our decision not to proceed at the current site and why.
As a council, we are committed to making decisions that balance the needs of our community with our financial and environmental responsibilities. We know that some of these decisions are not easy, and we understand the concerns that residents have raised - particularly around the proposed waste transfer site.
We have listened carefully to your feedback and weighed up some of the challenges associated with the proposed site and as a result, we have decided not to proceed with the current planning application for Henrietta Street. Some may say that this decision is only a reaction to the new technical requirements set by United Utilities, but that is not the case, the additional design changes - requiring two buildings instead of one - was a factor but was not the sole reason. Taken as a whole, including local objections and the wider impact on the community, we thought about it and felt that this was not the best solution.
We acknowledge that some will feel this decision should have been reached sooner. With hindsight, we may agree. But the fact is, we are here now, and we want to move forward in a way that is right for the community. We listened, we heard, we thought it through, and we adjusted our plans. That is what good decision-making should be about.
Our priority remains to find a solution that is both financially responsible and meets the long-term needs of our community. We are now looking at other options, including the possibility of locating the facility at Futures Park. We will keep residents updated as we explore the best way forward.
This month we had some good news about our move towards decarbonisation and improving the energy efficiency of our facilities. I’m pleased to tell you that we have secured nearly £1.4 million in funding to decarbonise Marl Pits Leisure Centre – the council's carbon-emitting building. The funding will be used to replace the outdated, inefficient gas-fired boiler with a modern heat pump, significantly reducing carbon emissions. In addition, the project will incorporate energy efficiency improvements and the installation of solar panels, allowing the building to generate its own electricity.
These measures will completely remove gas from the site, deliver substantial cost savings, and improve the overall sustainability and quality of the facility. This project is a major step towards reducing the Council’s operational emissions and keeping us on track to achieving our net zero target by 2030.
As always, I want to thank residents for their interest in what happens in the valley – people are bothered about what happens in Rossendale and that can only be a good thing. Your views matter, and while we may not always have immediate solutions, we remain committed to listening, adapting, and working towards the best outcomes for our borough.
If you wish to contact me, you can do so by calling 07817 414248 or emailing alysonbarnes@rossendalebc.gov.uk