Bollington Town Council have decided not to proceed with the offer of paying almost £60,000 to keep Bollington tip open for another ten months.

As reported last week by Macclesfield Nub News, Cheshire East Council told Bollington Town Council that the soon-to-be-mothballed Bollington Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) could kept open, in return for coughing up some cash.

Bollington Town Council were emailed on May 10, that they could stop the tip from being mothballed, if they paid £59,400 to keep the tip open until the end of March 2025.

The larger form of local government gave the smaller form of local government just eleven days to make a decision.

Bollington HWRC is located at Albert Road.

And an extraordinary general meeting of Bollington Town Council was held the day before the deadline, on Monday, to see if they should proceed with this offer.

However, the motion to pay this fee to keep the tip open for another ten months, was not carried.

The meeting, which was attended by 13 people, confirmed that an extension to the deadline was sought, but not granted.

The minutes described councillors which concurred 'that the Council cannot sacrifice its financial probity, that it cannot call upon its General Reserves without risking its own financial position or raising the precept.'

Cheshire East Council gave Bollington Town Council seven working days to decide. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Cllr Gary Appleton believed there was no time to consult with the community and Cheshire East Council has put Bollington Town Council in a 'difficult position'. He questioned the legality of the request and that there is not enough data on the usage of the HWRC.

Cllr John Cadman Stewart, who proposed the motion, was concerned that if Bollington Town Council can't fund the tip, it will be mothballed and unlikely to reopen. He felt the Council should seek contributions from neighbouring parish councils and look at other sources of funding, such as crowdfunding.

Cllr Dickie Fletcher stated that everyone wants to see the tip remain open and the Council has been put in an 'impossible position' and cannot sacrifice its financial probity to save Cheshire East Council.

Despite the motion not being carried, Bollington Town Council's minutes concluded with this message to the public: "Bollington Town Council is determined to do everything reasonably within its power to support the Bollington HWRC remaining open to all residents who wish to use it."

The site was initially meant to be 'mothballed' on April 1, but this has been temporarily postponed. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"Bollington Town Council is willing to discuss alternative methods for keeping the HWRC open with the responsible authority for Waste Disposal, Cheshire East Borough Council within timelines commensurate with the Council's decision taking arrangements and with the Council's ability to consult with the Community.

"If Cheshire East is prepared to proceed openly, fairly and with due consideration of its responsibilities to the environment Bollington Town Council will willingly cooperate."

As the motion was not carried, it looks like Bollington HWRC will be mothballed at the same time as Poynton and Middlewich tips.

The full minutes of the meeting can be read here.

You can read the full minutes of the meeting on the link above. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)