AN MP says the proposed closure of a tip would have a “detrimental impact” on residents.

Following a review in its 2024/25 budget, Kirklees Council proposed closing Nab Lane Household Waste and Recycling Waste Centre (HWRC) in Birstall - the least used of the five HWRCs in the district.

In a letter to the council, Kim Leadbeater, MP for Spen Valley, said: “I feel strongly the closure of this site would have a detrimental impact on my constituents and their access to a waste disposal and recycling facility.”

Explaining her reasons, she said: “In order to make the trip to the alternative site at Weaving Lane in Dewsbury, residents in Oakenshaw, Birkenshaw, and East Bierley would be facing a 20-mile round trip.

"We already have a significant problem with fly-tipping in Spen Valley and the wider area, and I am worried about the impact of the closure of the Birstall site on this.

“Similarly, I feel strongly that we should be making it easier for residents to recycle, not more difficult, which this closure would undoubtedly do.”

Announcing the decision, which was made before the change of leadership in July this year, Kirklees Council said the waste and recycling centre in Birstall would close in the late autumn with a precise date yet to be confirmed.

Kim said she and her family had used the tip themselves for more than 40 years and claimed there had been a "lack of communication".

Councillor Munir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways at Kirklees Council, said: “Plans to close Nab Lane HWRC is one of many cost-saving measures being implemented across the council, as set out in the annual budget at the beginning of the year. 

"This is following a Cabinet decision in April to approve a review of efficiency opportunities within the waste service, we conducted a consultation as part of a wider budget consultation, on our Involve website.

"This was combined with usage data from all five sites to inform the review which revealed Nab Lane had the lowest recycling rate of all our HWRCs and lowest total tonnage collected.

“The council has a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in Kirklees and any impact on fly-tipping following the closure of Nab Lane HWRC will be closely monitored and action taken where appropriate.

"Weaving Lane HWRC remains open seven days a week and is located just over five miles from Nab Lane.

"We encourage anyone who spots fly-tipping taking place at any point to report it on our website kirklees.gov.uk/flytipping.”