Bromley recycling centre shut down until Christmas after walls fell down

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A recycling centre will be closed until Christmas after three of the building’s walls fell down.

Churchfields Reuse and Recycling Centre in Churchfields Road, Beckenham, Bromley, was shut on September 12 to the public over safety concerns. Residents were told they would have to temporarily pay for additional services if they needed to get rid of rubbish.

A structural survey of the building was carried out on September 22, with the council receiving the results last week.

Councillor Aisha Cuthbert, portfolio holder for sustainability, said at a Bromley council meeting on Monday: “The survey recommends that eight of the 11 bay walls need to be reconstructed to enable the council to open the site again.

“The front wall is stable and just requires some reinforcement. The shutter system also needs to be reinstated.”

The councillor was asked to make a statement on the closure of the recycling centre and the timetable for reopening at the council meeting. Cllr Cuthbert said the whole site would need to be reinforced, walls repaired, and steel panels added before it could be opened.

While the centre is closed, Cllr Cuthbert said people should use the council’s bulky item or garden waste collection services, or travel to the Waldo Recycling Centre.

On using the alternative services offered by the council, Councillor Simon Jeal said that both of these services include additional fees for locals, while using the recycling centre was free. He said: “Are you looking at temporarily reducing or waving those costs until Christmas in order to encourage residents to make use of the services?”

The portfolio holder for sustainability said there would be no reduction in the additional council services, and encouraged residents to make use of their regular bin collections.

The garden waste collection service from Bromley council costs £60 for one year, while the bulky waste service is a minimum of £36 per use.

Bromley council is hoping to reopen Churchfields Reuse and Recycling Centre for use by locals before Christmas. The centre is still currently open for trade waste.

Pictured top: Churchfields Recycling Centre in Beckenham (Picture: Google Street View)