The mothball limbo of when we will not be able to use Middlewich tip is to come to an end.

The tip will 'temporarily close' in a matter of days - at 5 pm on August 4th.

Changes to household waste recycling centres in Cheshire East will go live from Monday 5th August.

This will include Middlewich Household Waste Recycling Centre shutting and Alsager HWRC staying open for an extra hour, meaning over the summer months residents will be able to visit the tip up until 6 pm.

As well, residents visiting Alsager, Crewe, Macclesfield or Knutsford HWRC during weekends or Bank Holidays will need to book a slot online in advance of their visit

Cheshire East say this say "queues and people's waiting times can be managed". There will be no limit to the number of times people can visit, say Cheshire East.

Alsager HWRC is getting an hour extension to its opening times. (Photo: Nub News)

From this date: 

• HWRCs in Alsager, Crewe, Macclesfield and Knutsford will be open for an extra hour during weekdays, meaning over the summer months residents will be able to visit up until 6pm.
• Residents wishing to visit Alsager, Crewe, Macclesfield or Knutsford HWRC during weekends or Bank Holidays will need to book a slot online in advance of their visit. This is so that queues and people's waiting times can be managed. There will be no limit to the number of times people can visit. 
• The emergency temporary closure of Bollington, Poynton and Middlewich HWRCs will take place as of 5pm on Sunday 4 August.
• For residents in the Bollington, Poynton and Middlewich areas, a mobile household waste recycling service will be available to them – they can also visit any of the other HWRCs in the borough. The mobile HWRC will alternate between the three towns and each one will receive one visit per month. This will take place on a Saturday morning.

Nub News has sought clarity on which of the three towns will have this rotating mobile HWRC service coming first, presumably from Saturday August 10.

In a statement, Cheshire East Council said: "The changes are being introduced on a temporary and trial basis to ensure essential savings are made in 2024/25."

"The council is currently forecasting a funding gap of £100m over the next four years and must continue to make difficult decisions to ensure it can continue to support those who need help the most."

More information can be found on the Cheshire East Council website. 

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "The emergency closure of some HWRCs in the borough was agreed as part of this year's budget and we have been working hard to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.

"As part of this, we are timing the mitigation measures – the booking system, later opening hours, and the mobile HWRC – to go live at the same time as the emergency closures."

Cllr Warren added: "Over the next few weeks, we'll be providing residents with more information about the booking system for weekends and Bank Holidays, as well as how residents in the Bollington, Poynton and Middlewich areas can access the mobile HWRC.

"The latest information will be found online on the council's website at cheshireeast.gov.uk/hwrc and I encourage residents to keep checking back as this webpage will continue to be updated as more details are confirmed.

"For now, and until the changes come into effect on 5 August, I'd like to remind residents that all HWRCs in Cheshire East can be accessed as normal." 

The changes are being introduced separately to an ongoing review of HWRCs. A public consultation on proposals for the longer-term provision of HWRC services closed on June 16.

Cheshire East Council added: "Throughout the emergency closures and as part of the ongoing review of HWRCs, the council will continue to engage with town councils to explore opportunities for working in partnership to support HWRC services in their local areas."

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