A WELL-USED recycling centre that was controversially shut down by Bucks County Council in April could be reopened – as the community mounts a campaign to get it up and running again.

The Bledlow Household Recycling Centre was forced to close on April 1 as the county council slashed £1.2 million from its budget – but thousands of residents opposed the plans.

Now, some residents in the county are facing a “20-mile round trip” just to dump their rubbish at one of the remaining centres, a councillor claimed on Tuesday night.

Cllr Gary Hall, a Princes Risborough town and district councillor, said residents are “really, really miffed” that they have to make longer journeys to try and recycle their waste, adding that plans to get the Bledlow Ridge tip reopened would be welcomed.

The Bledlow Household Recycling Centre Action Group has been set up by 11 town and parish councils in the area including Thame and Bledlow-cum-Saunderton.

A fundraising page has been set up by The Risboroughs county councillor Bill Bendyshe-Brown to raised £50,000 to help get the Wigans Lane tip back up and running as a commercial enterprise instead of a county council-run service.

A community interest company and a business bank account has been set up and the £50,000 will go towards the costs associated with getting planning permission and setting up the site for operation.

At Princes Risborough town council’s monthly meeting on July 30, councillors agreed to support the proposal by donating £1,000 to the fund.

Mayor and chairman of the town council, Cllr Matt Walsh, said backing the plans would be a “big win”, showing residents that they care.

However, fellow councillor Iain McLauchlan feared it would be “setting a dangerous precedent” if they provided the funding for a commercial enterprise to set up and said he “couldn’t support it”.

Cllr Hall said: “I understand the concern but I think we should park the negativity. The decision to close the tip was one of the most controversial things I can remember. There’s a long journey ahead but hopefully we can provide something good for residents.”

Cllr Alan Turner added: “This is something residents want. I think we have a duty to do this – we have been told very clearly by residents that this is what they want.”

The majority of councillors agreed to donate £1,000 to the fund. So far, £1,710 has been raised by other residents.

Donating to the cause, Maureen Dyroff, of Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth, said: “Thank you for your campaign to reopen the recycling centre.

“It makes so much environmental sense, not least in trying to combat climate change by reducing travel distances to the nearest recycling centre.”

Another supporter, Larry Greenfield, said: “Great to see positive local action on the back of a silly decision.

“The thousands of new houses being built around Princes Risborough will absolutely need this facility.”

Bucks County Council previously said the Bledlow site’s closure was warranted because it is one of the least used in the county.

To visit the fundraising page, click here.