New recycling plant needed

The estimated cost of the development includes a new fleet of waste collection vehicles.

According to a report compiled by Councillor Howard Mordue, the current sites do not allow for the population expansion that is taking place in the whole of the Vale.

The report states: “Recent demographic projections show that the population of Aylesbury Vale district will increase by around 33,000 new homes between 2011 and 2013.

“If it is assumed that this growth will be around 1,500 new homes per year, this will vastly increase the requirements and capacity of waste collection.

“This Pembroke Road (Aylesbury) development will provide a mid-term option to accomodate about 10 years of population growth.

The development also makes provisions available for the repair of the current site, including an extensive resurfacing and repair to the workshop floor, which the report describes as having been “chopped in half”.

As part of the capital investment programme, the council wish to replace the waste collection fleet which is due for renewal in 2017.

It is estimated that the capital costs for the new fleet will be in the region of £3.6 million – with a payback period of seven years, is expected to save £300,000 a year in leasing costs.

The development will also include an advanced vehicle workshop, allowing the council to repair refuse vehicles on site.

It is projected that this will save £324,000, increasing to £875,000 by year 10, money which would otherwise have gone to third party suppliers.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier said: “In some respects we’ve been the victims of our own success, those of you who have been councillors for some time will remember when we were asked why our council had this appallingly poor recycling rate of 17 percent.

“We have trebled that now, having decided to forge ahead with garden and food waste and it’s been a resounding success.”