North Wiltshire MP Brian Mathew has written to Wiltshire Council urging it to reconsider plans to close the Lower Compton and Purton household recycling centres.
In a letter to council leader Ian Thorn, dated 30th January, Mr Mathew said “serious concerns have been raised by a number of constituents”, particularly residents in Calne South who rely on the Lower Compton site.
While acknowledging the council’s financial pressures, he warned that closing the sites “without a practical alternative would be disruptive”, pointing to the “longer commute to Stanton St Quintin or Devizes” for local residents.
The MP also raised concerns about proposals to introduce a booking system at household recycling centres, saying the idea “has been highly unpopular amongst my constituents and is seen as an unnecessary barrier to recycling”.
He argued that reduced capacity was driving the proposal and said that if the Purton and Lower Compton sites remained open, “this system can be scrapped and residents encouraged to recycle even more”.
Mr Mathew urged senior councillors to “do all you can to renegotiate the deal with Hills”, calling for both recycling centres to remain open for residents in Calne South.
The intervention follows a unanimous vote at Calne Town Council last month opposing the closure of the Lower Compton site until a suitable local alternative is found and ready for use.
Residents will have a further opportunity to raise concerns at an extraordinary meeting of the Calne Area Board on Thursday 5th February, at 6.30pm, at Calne Community Campus. Wiltshire Council will give a presentation on proposed waste service changes, including the planned closure of the Lower Compton site from August 2026, followed by questions from the public.
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