Hayling residents vow to fight plans to close their tip

More than 50 people crammed into The Royal Shades pub in Hayling Island to vent their anger at proposals that could see the island’s household waste and recycling centre closed.

It comes as Hampshire County Council has launched a consultation on ways of saving £1.55m from its recycling centre budget.

A leaked council report suggests four options are being considered – and all would lead to the closure of the Hayling tip.

Many believe it could lead to traffic chaos as people try to get to the tip in an already heavily-congested Havant.

And more people would be tempted to fly-tip on the island’s many rural roads, say campaigners.

People were urged at the meeting to fill in the consultation forms and send them to the county council.

Islander Mark Coates told the meeting: ‘The power of receiving 500 more consultation forms on a desk next week will speak volumes for our island.’

Alli Wiltshire, from Hayling, started a petition in January and has collected more than 1,100 signatures.

She said Hayling was a unique case as there is only one road on and off.

‘We have got more houses being built and more people using the tip,’ she said.

‘It’s going to be a nightmare.’

Hayling East Cllr John Perry told the meeting: ‘We can raise petitions, which I think is very good. What these petitions must do is try to convince the councillors in Winchester that closing the Hayling tip is not good.’

Islander Chris Woollacott urged people to also write to Hayling’s county councillor Frank Pearce and also the area’s MP, Alan Mak.

He said: ‘They are the guys that can have some influence.’

The return trip to Havant is between 60 to 90 minutes on a congested day.

The consultation ends on May 25.

To find out more about the campaign visit facebook/savehaylingstip.