Waste site could be redeveloped

From the archive, first published Tuesday 10th Apr 2007.

A WASTE transfer site could be sold off by Essex County Council and redeveloped for housing.

The potential sale of the site, in Castle Road, Rayleigh, was revealed in a report by David Finch, county councillor responsible for property.

Mr Finch said: "The site has been recognised as having potential for sale, subject to an alternative site being located, bought and developed.

"It is likely a proposal will be brought forward as part of the waste strategy, but to date, no suitable alternative has been found."

When the site was first bought from Rochford District Council in 1978, part of the land housed a county education grounds maintenance depot.

Sharing the site had not ben a problem at first, but recently, it had become increasingly hard to meet new waste management regulations governing the storage of household waste and access for residents.

In 2005, maintenance of school grounds service was awarded to private contractor Pinnacle, which moved off to its own site last December.

While a new site for the waste centre is being sought the council plans to use the former depot space to improve household waste storage, providing weatherproof storage of electrical goods, prior to collection.

In the meantime, county council will lose the £11,000-a-year rent paid by Pinnacle.