IT’S BEEN a hotspot for fly-tipping in east Reading, but from next month it is hoped the problem will be solved once and for all.
A substation that houses recycling and bottle banks is to be closed to the public in a bid to stamp out dumped waste.
Situated on Erleigh Road next to a parade of shops, the area has been a popular place for people leaving everything from broken tellies to household white goods and bedding.
It has been constantly highlighted by councillors, and site owners Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Reading Borough Council have tried several approaches to thwart the problem, including adding warning signs and revamping the area to reduce areas where waste could be left.
However, none of these approaches has had the desired effect, and SSE has taken the decision to close the site to the public from Friday, March 1. As of next week, residents looking to recycle will need to take glass further along Erleigh Road – there are banks outside the Monkey Lounge. Alternatively, glass and textiles can be taken to Palmer Park, Cintra Park, or Whitley Street.
A spokesperson for SSE said: “We have been working with Reading Borough Council to address security and safety in relation to the substation, which provides power to hundreds of local homes and businesses.
“As safety is a key priority for SSEN – for customers, site staff and the integrity of the electricity infrastructure itself – an agreement has been reached the local authority that will enable SSEN to securely fence off the substation.”
Redlands ward Green party councillor Kathyrn McCann said: “SSE, who own the substation on Erleigh Road, has announced that they will be closing the site to the public from 1 March, due to the persistent fly-tipping.
“That means the recycling point there will be closing later this month.
“We had been discussing possible solutions to the issue with the council for some time. Our suggestions included adding warning signs, which was done, installing CCTV and reorganising the site to reduce space for waste to be dumped.
“While the outcome is frustrating, it will remove a significant fly-tipping hotspot.”
She added: “We will continue to lobby the council to implement doorstep glass recycling sooner than the statutory deadline of 2026, as neighbouring West Berkshire Council has already done.”
