Ceredigion household waste site could close for good

In a document before Ceredigion County Council’s meeting of February 29, where councillors will debate the budget including a proposed 11.1 per cent council tax rise, it is proposed a review of opening hours, and the potential closure of one site be undertaken.

An integrated impact assessment for members on the potential changes says: “The proposal is to reduce the number of Household Waste Sites (HWS) within the county and to look at reducing the services provided at the remaining sites."

The four sites currently within the county are

• Aberystwyth (Glanyrafon) 
• Lampeter
• Llanarth (Rhydeinon)
• Cardigan (Cilmaenllwyd).

It adds: “Ceredigion’s current provision is unsustainable and unaffordable moving forward and is evidenced by national studies which show that Ceredigion has a higher proportion of HWS per 10,000 population that all other councils in Wales.”

The proposal is one of 70 cost-cutting measures accompanying the proposed budget for 2024-’25, including a potential increase in the cost of using a public toilet, and the number of residual waste black bags collected.

A report for members ahead of that budget meeting says the 2024-’25 budget is “Ceredigion County Council’s starkest budget yet,” with “incredibly difficult and unpalatable budget choices”.

“The estimated revenue cost pressures being faced by the council for 24/25 total £18m, equivalent to a Ceredigion-specific inflation factor of 10 per cent.   This compares with general inflation running at four per cent.

“A budget shortfall of £14m has needed to be found from a combination of budget reductions and council tax increase considerations.

“Councillors have therefore had to face incredibly difficult and unpalatable budget choices as part of weighing up how and where to reduce the cost of council services, alongside considering the appropriate level of funding to be raised through council tax.”