Council plans £600k upgrade for waste depot

Council bosses are set to spend up to £600,000 on improvements to a key operational depot.

Knutton Lane Depot, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, is used as a base for the borough council's waste, recycling and Streetscene services, with about 150 staff working at the site.

In recent years though the facility, which dates back to the 1960s, has seen a "prolonged period of underinvestment", but the authority is now planning a "significant programme of refurbishment", a report has confirmed.

If approved by council cabinet members, planned works include better segregation of pedestrians and vehicles through resurfacing and line marking, and upgrades to lighting and CCTV systems.

The report to cabinet said existing welfare facilities, such as the canteen and toilets, were outdated and created a "poor working environment".

Once the scheme is approved, the works are set to be carried out in phases over a 12-month period.

Borough councillor Ben Simpson, cabinet member for waste, recycling and green spaces, said the depot had served the area for decades but "parts of the site now clearly need investment".

"Our waste, recycling and Streetscene teams are out every day delivering some of the council services residents rely on most, and it is right that we invest in the facilities they need to do those jobs safely and effectively," he said.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve the works at a meeting on Tuesday.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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