BURNLEY’s new state-of-the-art recycling centre opened its doors for the first time yesterday.

The £2.3million centre at Heasandford Industrial Estate, in Balderstone Lane, replaces the existing site at Grosvenor Street.

That site will now be turned into an enterprise park by the borough council.

County Coun Albert Atkinson, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “This is great news for everyone in Burnley and has been achieved in a real spirit of cooperation with everyone committed to doing what's best for the development of the town.

“The new recycling centre is a modern splitlevel facility which makes it easier to access the majority of skips without having to use steps, and keeps the service skip wagons away from the public areas.

“It also has also been designed to make it easier for both residents and contractors to access, reducing the potential for congestion.”

The green light was given for the recycling centre last April after a planning battle over the land.

The plans looked set to be delayed after fears the land could be a breeding ground for greater-crested newts, but developers will have to create two hectares of grassland suitable for wildlife.

Coun Roger Frost, Burnley Council’s executive member for economic regeneration and business support, said: “This move opens the way to preparing the site at Grosvenor Street for the new Knowledge Park which will bring tens of millions of pounds of investment, hundreds of new jobs and, alongside the magnificent £84 million UCLan/Burnley College campus, revitalise the whole area.

“With the site assembly now secured, development of the unique five acre advanced skills business park can now take the next step towards its development.”

FACTS ABOUT THE NEW RECYCLING CENTRE

  • THE new Household Waste Recycling Centre is the biggest in Lancashire.
  • It is open to residents across the borough as the Park Road site in Padiham closed last September.
  • Any items which cannot be placed in domestic bins or recycling bins can be taken to a recycling centre.
  • The centre will open from 8am to 7pm until October 31 and 9am to 6pm from November 1 to February 28/29. The HWRCs are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
  • THE HWRCs do not accept commercial waste. If you own a commercial-type vehicle or trailer you will need to obtain a free permit or call 0845 0500 957.
  • County council staff will be on hand to assist with unloading cars or help to carry heavy items.