Glossopdale’s only Reform councillor speaks out about closure of Glossop tip

Cllr Jason Isherwood, the only Reform UK county councillor in Glossopdale, has voiced strong concerns about the potential closure of the Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Reform-led Derbyshire County Council has said it is looking to close Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre as part of a wider set of budget cuts which aim to reduce a £40m hole in the authority's finances. The only other waste centre in the High Peak area is in Buxton, which is approximately a 35-minute drive from Glossop. 

The council says the facility needs £500,000 investment to bring it up to standard and ensure it complies with safety regulations - and seven out of the ten people who use it live outside the county and are not local council tax payers. 

Councillor Carol Wood, the Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment, said: 

“Making sure this council is as efficient as it can be and that every pound of council tax-payers’ money is accounted for and spent wisely is our top priority. 

“We’re scrutinising all of our services to ensure they give value for money and are delivering for our residents, as well as making sure there’s no wasteful spending on any projects or schemes, so that we can ensure the council is financially sound. 

“With considerable investment needed at Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre to make it fit for the future, coupled with the fact that it’s the least used of all of our recycling centres and is being used predominantly by people who do not live in Derbyshire and so do not pay their council tax here, it’s important that we look at all the options. This includes whether there’s a different way to provide the service or whether the service is still needed at all. 

“We’re looking at all the options before deciding on the best way forward – either continue running the centre and invest around £0.5 million needed to bring it up to the required standards in the future or consult with the public over its closure.” 

Cllr Jason Isherwood, the only Reform UK county councillor in Glossopdale, has voiced strong concerns. Cllr Isherwood represents Etherow, which covers Hadfield, Gamesley, Tintwistle and adjoining parts of Glossopdale. He told us:

“I recognise the extremely challenging financial position facing Derbyshire County Council, and I support the principle of delivering genuine value for money across all of our services.

“However, I have serious concerns about the proposal to close the Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre and the impact this would have on residents in Etherow and the wider area. For many households, the alternative site in Buxton represents a long and impractical round-trip, particularly for older residents, those without access to a car, and families on lower incomes.

"There is also a clear risk that removing local access to a recycling facility could undermine recycling rates and increase illegal disposal, creating environmental and financial consequences elsewhere.”

“I will be asking officers to provide fuller evidence behind the proposal - including the methodology used to assess site usage, the basis on which Glossop has been identified as the ‘least used’ facility, the capital investment requirement, and the environmental, transport and equality impacts. These matters need to be fully and transparently understood before any decision is taken.

“Alongside this, I am pressing for credible alternatives to be explored - such as residency or permit controls, cross-boundary funding discussions with neighbouring authorities, reduced-hours operation - so that savings can be achieved without the complete loss of provision.

“I will continue to engage constructively with Cabinet colleagues and officers, but I will be firmly representing the interests of Etherow residents throughout the consultation process. I would strongly encourage local people to share their views when the consultation opens so that the real-world impact on our communities is clearly reflected.”

Jon Pearce MP has also spoken about the issue, saying:

"Closing Glossop’s recycling centre would force residents to make an hour-long round trip just to dispose of household waste, which is simply unfair for many families, older residents, or those without access to a car. High Peak is a semi-rural area, and decisions like this show a lack of understanding of how people actually live here.

"This feels like the same old story - services stripped back in High Peak, with decisions taken with little regard for the impact on local families and older residents. If they think we’ll let them close Glossop’s recycling centre without one hell of a fight they’re in for a shock.”

The proposal to close the Glossop centre is part of the council’s Budget Savings Proposals for 2026-27, which will be considered by Cabinet on 9 January, followed by the Resources Scrutiny Committee on 14 January.