Gosport community skips are back - but there's a dispute over how much they are costing council

By Toby Paine
Published 18th May 2023, 23:14 BST
Updated 18th May 2023, 23:16 BST
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Gosport Borough Council’s community skip scheme will roll out a second time this weekend – but could cost the authority more than twice what it estimated last year.

In an effort to stamp out fly-tipping in Gosport, the borough council will provide skips for residents to dispose of any bulky household waste free of charge.

The council has teamed up with TJ Waste and Recycling to run the scheme.

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The skips will be available from 9.30am to 11.30am at the following locations and dates:

Gosport community skips last yearGosport community skips last year
Gosport community skips last year
  • Saturday, May 20 – Gosport Leisure Centre car park, off Forest Way
  • Saturday, May 27 – Walpole Park car park, off Haslar Road
  • Saturday, June 3 – Alver Valley West car park, off Cherque Way, Lee
  • Saturday, June 17 – White’s Place car park, off Forton Road (to be confirmed)
  • Saturday, July 1 – Green Lane car park

Council leader Cllr Peter Chegwyn, said: ‘When we started the scheme last year it was very popular and we collected about 90 tonnes of rubbish in around nine weeks.

‘We had to pause it for a while to sort out some teething problems, but now it’s back.

NOW READ: Council leader compared to Kim Jong-Un during row over skips

‘It’s all part of the council’s drive for a cleaner, greener Gosport. It’s a convenient service for residents and it could help reduce fly-tipping around the borough.

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‘Fly-tipping went down by a third so it’s a great scheme – it saves the council taxpayer money.’

Wood, cement, electrical cables, metal, glass, rubble, kitchen components, flooring, carpets, furniture, batteries and electricals are among the items that are eligible for use of the skips.

However, items such as plasterboard, liquid waste, asbestos, pressurised containers, tyres, fridges, freezers and clinical waste will not be accepted.

It was reported in May last year that the scheme cost about £45,570 a year, subject to tender.

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When the skips were introduced last year, in one of the then new Lib Dem council’s first moves, it drew opposition from Conservative councillors, one of whom labelled it ‘an absolute load of rubbish’.

The current annual cost is deemed ‘commercially sensitive’ and so not made public but sources said it’s now estimated to be between £110,000 and £130,000.

Cllr Chegwyn disputed this figure.

Related topics:Fly-tippingGosportRecycling