The new leader of Surrey County Council has announced plans to leave County Hall in Kingston-Upon-Thames.

Perhaps Tim Oliver could use the money he is saving to keep our recycling facilities going in Farnham?

 When Waverley Council recently considered the county council’s proposed closure of two recycling centres – in Farnham and  Cranleigh, they argued they could get stuck with the county’s problems. Because residents already faced with shorter opening hours have started dumping their stuff into Waverley’s “Bring Bins,” in the boroughs car parks! Resulting in shifting the cash-strapped county’s problems onto cash-strapped Waverley!

Tim Oliver, a Conservative councillor for Weybridge, was elected recently to lead the county council, taking over from David Hodge who stepped down from the role after seven years.

During his acceptance speech, Mr Oliver said: “For too long the emotional connection to a community has been taken for granted. He was referring to Kingston-Upon-Thames which is an outer London borough.

“For 50 years we have not been close enough to the residents we serve, and we all represent. I have therefore asked the officers to start the detailed planning for the relocation of the people in this building back into the county of Surrey.”

He hopes the authority will leave the Kingston HQ by 2020.

 WW predicts this will produce a shedload of money for the authority when the site is sold for housing? So why not use some of that money to properly fund Waverley’s existing recycling centres? Its children’s centres and more?

If Farnham loses its recycling centre, and the land is sold for housing, where will Biffa, Waverley’s newly appointed contractor, go? Neighbouring Authorities including – Hampshire and West Sussex are already putting measures in place to stop Surrey residents crossing the borders. Number-plate recognition has been installed in Hampshire and WSCC is asking for people to produce a driving licence.

The Farnham Herald’s ‘Don’t Dump the Dump’ campaign now has cross-party support – have you signed the petition?http://www.farnhamherald.com/article.cfm?id=131619&headline=Councillors%20join%20fight%20to%20keep%20tip%20open&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2018

Natalie Bramhall, the county councillor for Redhill West and Meadvale, has been appointed a deputy cabinet member tasked with finding the council a new home. 

Perhaps, if the decision is made to close Farnham’s Recycling centre – it could provide a new home for County Towers?