Council rejects move to keep Glossop tip open

The future of Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre has moved a step closer to a final decision as Derbyshire County Council met to debate its 2026-27 budget and wider financial plans.

The full council meeting took place on Wednesday 11th February at County Hall in Matlock.

At the heart of the meeting was a controversial proposal by the Reform-led authority to close Glossop Tip as part of its cost-saving measures. The move has sparked significant concern across the county, with councillors from multiple parties voicing opposition during a lengthy and passionate debate.

Conservative Councillor Jean Wharmby, who represents Glossop North, put forward an amendment to the proposed budget that would remove the planned closure from the council’s savings programme.

Her amendment proposed allocating £300,000 to keep the site open for a further year, funded from reserves - particularly in light of an unexpected £2.6 million of additional funding recently received from central government to support community services.

The amendment was seconded by Conservative Councillor Nigel Gourlay, for Chapel and Hope Valley, who argued that the decision carried consequences far beyond what appeared “on a spreadsheet.”

In a detailed speech, Cllr Gourlay stressed that the proposed amendment did not ignore financial pressures or the statutory obligation to set a balanced budget. Instead, he said it would use reserves in the way they were intended - to provide breathing space for 12 months and avoid rushing a structural decision within a single budget cycle, ensuring the right long-term decision is ultimately made.

Thirteen councillors from across the political spectrum spoke during the debate. The majority expressed concerns about the impact of closure, including Labour Councillor Damien Greenhalgh for Glossop South, who questioned the data used to support the proposal and vehemently stated that shutting the tip would be a huge mistake and a disaster for Glossop.

In a notable intervention, Reform Councillor Jason Isherwood for Etherow, broke ranks with his party’s leadership to oppose the proposal. While reaffirming his support for his party and the need for a robust budget strategy, he delivered a passionate speech stating that his first loyalty was to the residents who elected him and that he could not support a decision he believed would harm his constituency. He said:

“I stand for the people who elected me - my loyalty is to residents first. Glossop HWRC is not a ‘nice to have’; it is a working public service that thousands of households rely on. If you close it, waste doesn’t disappear - it moves, and the costs move with it.

“Closing the site doesn’t remove costs - it displaces them. When those costs reappear elsewhere - in enforcement, clean-up, pressure on neighbouring sites, or longer journeys for residents - we haven’t reduced the burden, we’ve just moved it around.

“If a significant portion of use is from outside the county, the solution is not to punish Glossop residents. The solution is to get the data right, recover costs where lawful, and run the site more efficiently. That’s the grown-up, fair approach.”

Despite the strong cross-party criticism, members voted against the amendment to remove the Glossop Tip closure from the savings plans. The proposal therefore remains within the council’s agreed budget framework.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

As a result, the proposed closure remains part of the council’s financial plans. However, the process is not yet complete.

The proposal will now move to a 12-week public consultation, during which residents, community groups and neighbouring authorities will be invited to submit evidence and challenge the assumptions behind the closure. The findings will then be considered at a future Cabinet meeting, where a final decision is expected to be made in June 2026.

REACTION FROM COUNCILLORS

Speaking to the Glossop Chronicle after the meeting, Cllr Wharmby said:

“Today at Full Council, during budget discussions, I put forward an amendment asking Derbyshire County Council to allocate £300,000 to keep Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre open.

On Monday, DCC received an additional £2.6 million to support community services and the council’s budget. I asked members of Reform to consider that, with this additional funding, £300,000 could and should be allocated to protect a vital facility serving Glossopdale.

Closing the Glossop tip would be a huge mistake. This is a well-used and essential service for one of the largest population centres in the High Peak. Residents are being asked to travel miles to Buxton - a journey that is unrealistic for many, especially older residents and families, and particularly concerning during winter months when travelling over the Chunal in bad weather can be extremely difficult.

The closure risks increasing fly-tipping in our beautiful rural area, creating further environmental damage and long-term clean-up costs. Pushing this decision forward without proper consultation also risks undermining public trust.

Serious concerns remain. The usage figures have not been fully confirmed, and many residents have been unable to access the online registration system on the DCC website. These issues must be addressed before any final decision is made.

I asked the Cabinet Member, Cllr Wood, whether she has visited Glossop and travelled over the Chunal herself. If she had, she would better understand the practical reality residents face.

Despite a passionate debate in the chamber, Reform councillors voted not to allocate the funding needed to save the site and kept Glossop tip in the budget for closure.

I am deeply disappointed and frustrated by this decision. However, there will now be a consultation process. We must work together as a community to make our voices heard. I will continue to fight to save this vital facility for Glossopdale.”

Cllr Nigel Gourlay also spoke to the Chronicle following the vote:

“You can’t campaign on lower taxes and protected local services, then vote to close Glossop Tip and put council tax up by 4.9%. People in Glossopdale will understandably feel short-changed.

“Glossop residents will now face longer journeys, more inconvenience and potentially more fly-tipping, while paying more in council tax. That combination demands a very strong justification, and I haven’t seen that yet.”

Councillor Isherwood urged residents to take part in the consultation, telling us:

“This can’t be reduced to a slogan or a single line in a report. This is about fairness, access, and whether the evidence stands up to scrutiny. I’m asking residents to engage with the consultation and put forward real, practical evidence - because once a site like these closes, it is a permanent loss.”

Labour’s Cllr Damien Greenhalgh said:

“There will now be a public consultation and we need to keep fighting this. I will be working alongside our MP Jon Pearce and councillors of any party and none, because this is a bad decision for Glossop.”