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Temporary closure of Hempsted Household Recycling Centre for improvement works

Published
Residents who use Hempsted Household Recycling Centre (HRC) are being advised that the site will temporarily close later this summer to allow for essential improvement works.

Gloucestershire County Council understands that this will be frustrating and inconvenient, particularly for people who rely on the site regularly, and appreciates people’s patience while the upgrades are carried out to improve the service in the long term.

The site will be closed from Thursday 13 August and it is expected to reopen in mid-November.

The closure will allow a range of improvements designed to make the site more efficient, environmentally friendly and more resilient in future. These include installing six new electrical waste compactors for general waste, garden waste and cardboard, powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity to improve efficiency and reduce waste journeys.

A new reuse shop will be created in the months following the reopening of the site where items brought to the centre can be repaired and given a second life.

Further upgrades include improvements to the site surface and concrete walls, along with better drainage to manage rainwater more effectively, reduce the risk of flooding and help prevent unplanned closures in future.

During the temporary closure, people can still use other HRCs across Gloucestershire, and details of the nearest available sites can be found on the HRC map on Gloucestershire Recycles. Wingmoor Farm HRC is already open seven days a week, and Pyke Quarry HRC will increase opening hours to a seven-day opening while Hempsted HRC is temporarily closed.

Cllr Ashley Bowkett, cabinet member for nature, climate and waste reduction, said: “I know this temporary closure will be frustrating for many residents who rely on Hempsted, and I want to thank people for their patience while this important work is carried out.

“These improvements are an investment in a better service for the future. They will make the site more efficient, more environmentally friendly and more resilient, with the added benefit of helping us to reduce our environmental impact.

“We appreciate this will cause some short-term disruption, but these upgrades will help us provide a more reliable and sustainable service for everyone who uses the site.”