Plans to build a long awaited recycling centre in south Bristol after years of delay could take a significant step forward next week.
Promises of delivering the scheme at the Hartcliffe Way site have been made by nearly every political party in the city over the years - but nothing has ever materialised.
But last year Bristol City Council said it “remained committed” to building a third recycling centre in the city following a petition from a resident.
A report on the project is set to go back to cabinet on Tuesday (July 2) where members will be asked to approve funding of £650,000 to pay for the feasibility and design stages along with some relocation costs.
The current plan would see a new Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC) built on land at Hartcliffe Way, currently used as a Highways Depot.
The existing Street Cleansing and Winter Services Depot at the site would need to be relocated should the scheme go ahead.
The project would be wholly funded by the council with £4million allocated to the scheme in the 2017 budget.
The initial £650,000 is part of that £4m estimated budget.
A report to cabinet said: “The site will have a greater number of containers than the existing provision at Days Road HWRC, with a more efficient layout incorporating a central lane for cars to pass those waiting to park in any specific bays.
“These measures are being designed to mitigate risk of highway queuing onto Hartcliffe Way.
“The design will include ANPR technology, with a check point and route for refused vehicles to exit, so as to allow effective management of the site.
“These measures will be necessary to control the waste disposal costs of the new facility by ensuring that policies strictly limiting the use of the HWRCs to Bristol residents can be fully enforced.
“The design includes a Reuse Centre with dedicated parking provision.
“The HRRC designs will include an option for the Street Cleansing Depot to return to the site as a second phase of development
The council and Bristol Waste Company, which would operate the site, have reviewed a series of plans prepared by consultants, and work is now underway to start developing a project plan.
A full business case and detailed cost plan is expected to be brought back before cabinet later this year for approval.
In 2012, Bristol City Council put £2m aside for the Hartcliffe Way site and the scheme was also part of the city's European Green Capital bid.
But former mayor George Ferguson shelved the idea during his time in office stating that the council could not afford the running costs every year.
Current mayor Marvin Rees put the recycling centre back on the agenda in 2016, and the centre was included in the council’s waste strategy.
However until the end of last year the project appeared to not have moved forward since then.
