Bath Recycling Centre planning application revised following feedback

Proposals for a new waste and recycling hub in Bath have been amended following feedback from residents and stakeholders and a revised planning application has been submitted.

A formal planning application to develop the site in Locksbrook Road, currently used by the council’s street cleansing activities, was submitted by Bath & North East Somerset Council in August. Since then, the design team has been working to revise the plans to address concerns around the trees, noise, lighting, traffic and accessibility within the site.

The revised planning application can be viewed on the council’s planning portal. The new design illustrates changes to the pedestrian and public vehicle entrance layout, the step and ramp access to the gantry above the main waste and recycling containers, and the way cars are managed within the site.

Stakeholder feedback revealed some areas where further technical work is being considered and as a result the main drainage scheme has been rerouted through the centre of the site, access from the river path moved and hard standing minimised to ensure the roots of the mature trees are protected.

The detailed illustration submitted with the application shows how the site will be split into two operational areas: a facility for residents to park and dispose of household waste and recycling items, small recyclables and non-hazardous waste; and an area for the council’s Street Cleansing teams to deposit litter bin waste, street sweepings and weed waste and skips for collecting recycling.

A flexible booking system will be used to control traffic flow and visitor numbers with a maximum allowance of 14 cars for each 15-minute slot and a member of staff to help direct the visitors. The site has capacity for 16 cars, with one disabled bay, 11 drop off points and 5 waiting bays, as well as cargo bike parking and cycle racks
Trailers and vans will not be permitted on site and customers using these vehicles will be asked to use Keynsham Recycling Hub or Old Welton Recycling Centre.

The proposed operational hours are Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sunday 9am to 1pm. Public opening hours will be similar to the current Midland Road: Monday to Friday, from 8am with last booking slot 15.30pm; Saturday 9am to 15.15pm; Sunday 9am to 12.30pm.

Residents will be able to recycle household waste, cardboard, soft furnishings, bulky waste, garden waste, wood, scrap metal and large electrical items such as washing machines, as well as dry recyclables such as plastic, paper, cans and glass.

Waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) small domestic appliances, TVs, fridges and freezers, car batteries, tyres, gas bottles, asbestos, plasterboard, gypsum, DIY including hardcore and rubble, soil and plasterboard are among the materials that will not be accepted at the new site.

There will be no processing of waste or recycling on the site. All materials will taken directly to treatment facilities or to Keynsham Recycling Hub for onward transfer to treatment facilities.

Councillor Tim Ball, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services said: “I’d like to thank all the residents and stakeholders who commented on the initial proposals, we’ve listened to all your feedback and amended the plans taking your comments into account. I would like to reiterate that no waste will be processed on site; all the materials collected will be taken on to treatment facilities outside of Bath. I encourage people to take a look at the revised proposals and let us know what they think.”

The revised proposal could go before planning committee in December or January. You can see an overview of the revised proposals and the site layout online at https://www.bathrecyclingcentre.co.uk/.