Lisbellaw Household Recycling Centre was “temporarily” closed following health and safety concerns in a report. 

Director of Environment and Place at the Council, John News provided the update on the Household Recycling Centre (HRC) during the meeting in Omagh of the Environmental Services Committee on November 6. 

Describing some of the concerns raised in the report he said there were health and safety concerns as  staff contractors had “to undertake unsafe movements which could not be controlled or mitigated because of the physical limitations and constraints of the site and the nature of the vehicles that operate on that site.”

He told members: “On that basis, having given consideration to the draft report and looked for alternative layouts to the site and even changes to how services are delivered on the site, it was concluded that neither was possible and therefore it was left with no option but to recommend that the operations on the site cease with immediate effect.”

Noting the closure had caused concern among residents of the village, Mr. News said: “We do recognise that this change has caused some disruption for local residents and I know a number of members have contacted me reflecting the views of residents over the last three weeks in that regard.”

Mr. News said that the Council had advised the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on the closure of the site and had written to inform them of “the temporary suspension of the license for up to 6 months to give due consideration and to take a considered approach in respect of the Lisbellaw HRC site”.

He noted that the site is now  secure and is monitored by staff regularly with CCTV in place to “mitigate against unauthorised access and indeed fly-tipping.”

Mr. News told members Council will be “progressing and investigating” an alternative site or location in Lisbellaw while the waste management license issued by NIEA remains suspended.  Enniskillen Ulster Unionist Councillor Roy Crawford queried whether Council had considered adding an additional member of staff to the site.

In response, Mr. News said: “We considered a range of alternative models, the issue isn't about staffing.”  He went on to remind Councillors it was due to health and safety and turning vehicles such as bin lorries.  He also noted that Lisbellaw HRC would have received the lowest percentage of household recycling in the district.  DUP Councillor for Enniskillen, Keith Elliott acknowledged that letting residents know that the closure was due to health and safety reasons may have softened the blow.

“I have spoken to a lot of people with regard to this, they do acknowledge,  health and safety issues you can’t really argue with it and as Councillor Crawford said with regard to extra staff on the site. Moving lorries of those sizes in that area you really need two council workers to do that job as well as the driver of that vehicle.”

Calling for alternatives for the village, Councillor Elliott said: “Going forward, an alternative site within the Lisbellaw area in the grand scheme of things is what the residents would be looking for. I know it has a smaller amount of recycling at this site, some of the people I have spoken to are elderly people. They could be going to this site with things in their hands.  It is not unknown for people to arrive at this site with a wheelbarrow.”