Picture: Becky Saunderson. Image No.043063
A PLEA to save Gollachy recycling centre at Buckie from the axe has been issued by a local councillor. With Moray Council faced with saving almost £15 million over the coming financial year to balance the books, the centre has been issued a stay of execution until April next year, leaving just 14 months to secure its future. Buckie councillor Sonya Warren urged the community to come together and seek solutions that would keep the well-used facility open. “I’ve had contact from a few folk about either business opportunities or setting up charities or social enterprises to upcycle and recycle stuff from Gollachy,” she told the Advertiser. “We already have the very successful social enterprise Moray Reach Out that operates Waste Watchers in Buckie. “I think if would be beneficial for all interested parties to get together to discuss ways forward. It may even be worthwhile considering a Community Asset Transfer for Gollachy. “If there is sufficient demand then a public meeting could be organised. I would urge folk to involve the community council and Buckie Area Forum to enable a whole community approach. I believe it’s important for everyone to work together to achieve the best possible way forward. “I’m also concerned that should they go ahead with the proposal to close Gollachy there is no extra provision for recycling points. “The two we already have in Buckie are well used, often filled to above capacity before the uplift is done. I would anticipate additional pressure will be placed on these facilities if Gollachy closes. “However, although I have asked officers if they would place an addition recycling point similar to those at Tesco and Newlands Lane in Buckpool to help folk there with recycling, the answer so far is no.” Councillor Warren added that Gollachy was the second most efficient recycling centre in Moray, with the closure plans being taken on the basis of spreading the pain of the cuts geographically rather than solely on economic grounds. Buckie and District Community Council chairman Steve Thornton warned that closing Gollachy
could actually end up costing the local authority more money than saving it. “Closing Gollachy is going to lead to more fly-tipping, which in turn will cost the council more to clean up,” he said. “It’s just common sense, in the long run the council aren’t likely to save anything, it might even cost them more. “One solution might be to introduce a small charge to dump larger items, like three piece suites, for example, while dumping smaller items remains free.”