Surrey to Allow Ascot & Sunningdale to Use Bagshot Civic Amenity Site

Early Christmas present for Royal Borough residents: Royal Borough residents in the south of the borough are enjoying an unusual early Christmas present – thanks to a generous helping of seasonal goodwill from neighbouring Surrey County Council.

Following successful negotiations between the Royal Borough and Surrey County Council in the last couple of months, residents in Sunninghill, Sunningdale and Ascot can now once again use Surrey's civic amenity site in Swift Lane, Bagshot – instead of making the longer trip to the borough's own CA site at Stafferton Way in Maidenhead.

Since September, borough residents have been unable to use Surrey's civic amenity site after the closure of other neighbouring CA sites put additional financial pressures on the Surrey site.  

But now – as a result of discussions between the Royal Borough and the county council – residents with an SL5 postcode will be once again able to use the site in Swift Lane from  Monday 21 December 21, provided they bring with them proof of residency in the Royal Borough.

Use of the Surrey site will be subject to the borough making a financial contribution to Surrey County Council's waste disposal costs for borough-generated waste.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, lead member for public protection, said this week: "This is great news – and just in time for Christmas too!  Our officers have worked hard in recent weeks to negotiate this arrangement with Surrey County Council, and the timing could not be better.

"This arrangement with Surrey will mean that residents in the south of the borough will now find trips to the tip much easier and shorter – which is particularly beneficial at this time of year with families generating more household waste and recycling.

"I am delighted that we have been able to reach this successful conclusion and would like to thank Surrey County Council for their flexibility and co-operation in helping to resolve the situation for the benefit of our residents.  It would be great if we could negotiate a long-term arrangement over the coming weeks."

Cllr Lynne Hack, cabinet member for the environment at Surrey County Council, said: "We have recently taken the step of restricting use of the waste facilities near our borders, such as Bagshot, to Surrey residents, because our residents should not have to pay for the disposal of waste they have not created, especially in the current financial climate.  It boils down to making sure Surrey residents get the best value for money from their services.  

"However, in the interests of goodwill to our near neighbours in Windsor and Maidenhead we have agreed to make this exception.  Our own residents will not be disadvantaged as the Royal Borough will pick up the cost."