Further clarification has been provided regarding how long Lower Compton Household Recycling Centre could remain open.
Wiltshire Council published details earlier this week about the future of the household recycling centres at Purton and Lower Compton following a cabinet meeting, as part of amendments to its draft 2026/27 budget proposals. The council said revised contract extensions had been agreed with contractor Hills Waste Solutions to allow both sites to remain open “for the time being” while work progresses on a new recycling facility in the north of the county.
Speaking after the meeting, council leader Cllr Ian Thorn told Calne News: “At this afternoon’s Wiltshire Cabinet meeting we approved an extension to the HRC at Lower Compton of three years. This is designed to provide time to open a new HRC in the RWB area.”
However, the council’s published statement did not specify a fixed timescale, stating instead that the site would continue operating while work on the replacement facility progresses. Social media messaging from Wiltshire Liberal Democrats also referred to Lower Compton being extended “up to three years”.
Following enquiries received by this publication after the article appeared, Cllr Thorn clarified the position.
He told Calne News: “For Lower Compton we have a one plus one plus one deal. I have also said that both sites will stay opening until the site RWB opens.”
This means the contract extension is structured as annual renewals, potentially lasting three years in total rather than a guaranteed fixed term. Purton, by contrast, has been widely communicated as having a three-year extension.
Cllr Ashley O’Neill, Conservative Wiltshire councillor for Calne Rural, where the Lower Compton site is located, welcomed the extension but said uncertainty remains.
He said: “Obviously, I am pleased that Lower Compton has had a stay of execution, but even now its future is uncertain. The extension of Lower Compton is for only one year, whereas Purton is for three years.”
He also criticised aspects of the decision-making process, saying he had been “surprised and disappointed” not to have been briefed in advance of the original proposals and noting that the subsequent reversal was announced at a Calne Town Council meeting ahead of formal cabinet discussion. He described the overall handling of the situation as “an absolute shambles from start to finish”.
He added: “Regardless, when a new facility opens in the Royal Wootton Bassett area, Lower Compton will close, and Calne will lose its facility. That is unacceptable and unfair to the Calne community and the campaign goes on.”
His full submission will appear separately in Calne News’ Councillor Column.
A public meeting scheduled for today, Thursday 5th February at Calne Community Campus will go ahead, where residents are expected to discuss the recycling centre situation alongside proposals including a booking system and three-weekly bin collections.
The amended budget proposals will be debated at scrutiny on 11th February before being considered by Full Council on 24th February.
A spokesperson for Hills Waste Solutions said: “While we await formal notification from Wiltshire Council with regards to their intentions at both Purton and Lower Compton, we welcome their reconsideration of the importance of these community facilities, and will continue to work with the council.”
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