THE chairman of Fife Council's environment committee says that the delay in re-opening Cowdenbeath Recycling Centre is all about social distancing problems and aspects of traffic management.

That follows this week a challenge by local Cowdenbeath councillor, Darren Watt, who is worried that the Cuddyhouse Road facility may never re-open. The Cowdenbeath centre is one of two in Fife that as yet has not re-opened and Councillor Watt fears a hidden agenda which might see it closed full-stop.

But Councillor Ross Vettraino, the convener of the Council’s Environment and Protective Services Committee said on Monday: “Councillor Watt is a bit late in the day, when he calls for Council Officers to address immediately the reasons why the Cowdenbeath Recycling Centre has not yet been re-opened, because that is precisely what officers have been doing. Moreover, as I personally made Councillor Watt aware of the actions that the Officers are taking, I am disappointed that he is seeking separate assurance from Officers.

"I am also disappointed that he has chosen to make a statement which can do no other than mislead the community about the efforts that the officers are making.

“It is true that Cupar and Cowdenbeath Recycling Centres have not yet been re-opened, but that is because these are the Centres which present the greatest challenges in terms of ‘social distancing’ and traffic management, so it is taking longer to find solutions, which will ensure the safety of staff and of the community".

He added: “None of the nine Recycling centres, which have re-opened are currently able to accept large bulky items, but the Council’s Bulky Waste Collection Service has been re-started and over 300 members of the community took advantage of the Service last week.

“Those members of the Community, who wish to recycle glass, paper and cardboard, plastics and cans can do so at any of the hundreds of Recycling Points throughout Fife, some of which can be found in most of the settlements that might use the Cowdenbeath Centre.

“Alternatively, and in addition, the Recycling Centre at Lochgelly, not a million miles away, is open seven days per week and is where excess garden waste, which is not uncommon at this time of year, and large bulky items can be disposed of safely. I would venture the view that the communities of Newport, Tayport, Burntisland and Newbugh, to mention but four locations, would welcome having a Recycling Centre so close."

But he then said: “I acknowledge that there are people, who, rather than travel to Lochgelly, may indulge in illegal ‘fly-tipping’.

"Those are people, who don’t care about the environment or those with whom they share it and who deliberately and irresponsibly abuse the environment to both the aesthetic and financial cost of the Community. Such people are no more than environmental vandals.

"Happily, however, the vast majority of the community is not irresponsible and does not indulge in such abuse. I believe that the Council would be failing those people, if it let itself be held to ransom by the vandals and, to suit their convenience, opened any of its Recycling Centres when it wasn’t safe to do so. Instead, the Council is looking to strengthen its policing of Environmental Vandalism.

“When officers have concluded their appraisal of the situation, I intend to consult with the local councillors. In the meantime the Council, as always, is putting safety first.”