Photo – Alan Mak MP with Cllr Rob Humby (front seated)
Behind (left to right) – Cllr Frank Pearce, Allison Wiltshire, Cllr Mike Wilson, Cllr Clare Satchwell
Local MP Alan Mak has stepped up the campaign to save Hayling Tip by bringing Hampshire County Council’s key-decision-maker and Environment chief to Hayling.
Mak organised and chaired a meeting on Saturday 14 May on Hayling with Councillor Rob Humby, Hampshire Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport. Humby will decide the tip’s fate over the summer.
Alongside residents’ petition organiser Allison Wiltshire, Mak was joined by Hayling councillors Mike Wilson (Hayling West), Clare Satchwell (Hayling East) and Frank Pearce (Hayling councillor on Hampshire council).
The meeting was a chance for Mak and the local councillors to set out detailed arguments for keeping the Hayling site open, and ask Humby questions about the process. It also gave Humby an opportunity to see the tip for himself, and look around southern Hayling to understand the Island’s unique geography.
The Havant MP has worked hard to lobby councillors at county level to listen to the views of Hayling residents and local businesses. He met Hampshire Council Leader Roy Perry and Deputy Leader Keith Mans in Westminster recently.
Reflecting on the visit, Mr Mak said the Cllr Humby’s visit to the HWRC, and the productive meeting that followed, was a major coup for the ‘Save Hayling Recycling Centre’ campaign.
Hampshire County Council’s public consultation on the Hayling Island Household Waste Recycling Centre remains open until 25 May 2016. Links to this, as well as the residents’ petition organised by Allison Wiltshire, can be accessed via Alan’s website – www.alanmak.org.uk.
Alan Mak said: “As local MP, I’m working hard to keep Hayling tip open by lobbying decision-makers at Hampshire County Council. I’ve stepped up the campaign by bringing Councillor Rob Humby to Hayling to see for himself how important the tip is, and to meet local councillors and campaigners at a roundtable I’m chairing.”
Mak added: “I’ll continue to make a strong case for keeping Hayling tip open to Hampshire County Council, and encourage all residents to respond to their consultation and sign the petition organised by Allison Wiltshire. Working together with Islanders, I’m doing all I can, and now look forward to the consultation’s outcome.”
Cllr Rob Humby commented: “Alan is a strong voice for Hayling Island as MP, and I was glad to attend his meeting and visit Hayling to discuss local residents’ views about the waste recycling centre. As the county council’s public consultation remains open, we encourage engagement from Alan and his constituents on this issue.”
Cllr Humby added: “Once the consultation ends on 25 May, Hampshire County Council will take the views of all residents – ably communicated to us by Alan and Allison in particular – into account before making the final decision.”
Humby’s decision is expected to come in early August or September, but could be as early as July depending on the volume of responses to the consultation. Mak has promised to keep residents updated through reports in the Islander.