WASTE bosses in Oxford are hoping to force County Hall to build a superdump at Redbridge.

City executive member for waste John Tanner wants Redbridge Waste Recycling Centre to be expanded and run jointly by the county and city councils.

And if the county council doesn’t agree to the venture, it could face a 1,900 per cent rent rise at the city council-owned site.

At the moment, the county council rents the site in South Oxford from the city council for a peppercorn rate of £5,000-a-year.

But now the city council is considering pushing the rent up as high as £100,000-a-year and back-dating the payment to 2011.

John Tanner, the city’s executive board member for cleaner, greener Oxford, said: “We have been methodically going through our property portfolio to make sure we are getting the right rent for our assets. This is part of that.

“What we’re saying is that we think this site is worth £100,000-a-year and if they want to continue to run it as it is that’s what should be paid.

“What I want to see is a bigger improved waste and recycling facility at Redbridge, run by both the county and city council, and if that were to happen I am sure we wouldn’t end up charging them £100,000 a year.”

He added negotiations over the site were ongoing.

Plans for a £3m “superdump” in Kidlington were scrapped earlier this year over land ownership issues, and the county council has been on the lookout for an alternative site in the Oxford area.

But it is understood the 0.68 hectare site at Redbridge is not big enough to accommodate the same sort of facility as the one planned for Kidlington.

County cabinet member for growth and infrastructure Hilary Biles said: “Oxfordshire County Council is planning to spend £120,000 on upgrading Redbridge and officers of both councils have been working together since January to identify another site.

“At no time has the city council suggested any other site and nor has Councillor Tanner.

“The only proposal has been to increase the rent from £5,000 to £100,000 backdated to 2011.

“This jeopardises the viability of this site and we have requested the city council provide evidence to support their huge increase which as yet they have failed to do.

“The county council is seeking to negotiate a sensible rental agreement to enable the planned investment to go ahead while we seek to find a long-term solution to Oxford’s issues.”

The upgrade money will be spent on refurbishing the current facilities, replacing equipment and improving the layout.

Bertie Place resident Emily Yates, a 19-year-old student, said: “I think expanding it would be a good idea. We use it all the time, it’s very convenient.”

Susan Bolton, 54, of Wytham Street, added: “It wouldn’t really affect me if it was expanded. I use it about three times a year.”

TIMELINE

  • September 2009: Councillors name Ardley in Bicester as the proposed site for a waste incinerator
  • October 2009: Incinerator plans at Ardley and alternative site Sutton Courtenay are rejected by the county council’s planning committee.
  • January 2010: Energy firm Viridor announces it will appeal against council rejection of Ardley incinerator plan
  • April 2010: Viridor submits a revised planning bid for Ardley
  • July 2010: Council signs deal with Viridor for £651m incinerator at Ardley
  • August 2010: Deal between council and Viridor is called in
  • October 2010: Revised plans for the Ardley facility are approved by the county council
  • December 2010: The plans receive Government backing
  • February 2011: An appeal against the decision is thrown out by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles
  • July 2011: High Court rejects appeal against decision
  • July 2012: Council leader Ian Hudspeth admits the authority’s waste strategy is unravelling after concerns about plans for a £3m superdump at Kidlington
  • February 2013: The council confirms plans for the £3m dump at Kidlington had been scrapped over land ownership issues, costing the council £300,000.