Construction work begins on the new Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)

12.00.00am GMT Wed 14th May 2008

Construction begins on Andover's new HWRC

Construction has begun on a new bigger and better Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) for Andover area residents. The new 'split-level' HWRC will be constructed on a parcel of land known as Plot 81 on the Walworth Industrial Estate located between Scott Close and Livingstone Road. The new recycling centre will replace the existing Andover HWRC in Shepherds Spring Lane. Cllr Robin Hughes said, " The location and size of the existing Andover HWRC has made it increasingly unsuitable for the level of usage it receives. During busy periods cars have been nose to tail back from the site and on to New Street and beyond." The construction period is scheduled to last for six months. The Natta Building Company Ltd have been appointed, following competitive tender, as the new HWRC construction contractor. They have committed to using recycled or recovered materials wherever possible in the construction of the HWRC and the construction site has been registered with the 'Considerate Constructors Scheme'. This will ensure that best practice is achieved, beyond statutory requirements in terms of cleanliness, noise and consideration of neighbours. The Natta Building Company Ltd have already successfully completed HWRC schemes for the Hampshire County Council at Alton, Winchester and Basingstoke's HRWC extension.

Considerate Constructors Scheme

The new HRWC will be considerably larger than the existing Andover HWRC, and will incorporate an improved, split level layout providing an area dedicated entirely to users of the facility. Users will enter the facility via Scott Close and exit onto Livingstone Road. During busy periods, there will be significant on site stacking capacity to prevent cars queuing on the road outside the entrance. Service vehicles will have a separate access, entering and leaving the site from Livingstone Road. This will remove the need to temporarily close the site to the public during bin changeovers, reducing queuing times significantly. After speaking to the County Council's Principal Development Officer, Waste & Resource Management Section Cllr Robin Hughes said, "At long last, Andover residents can look forward to a new and improved household waste recycling centre opening in mid December 2008.The new HWRC located on the eastern outskirts of Andover will provide residents with easier access than the current town centre location in Shepherds Spring Lane." "It will be three times bigger than the existing Andover HRWC. The total cost and the new facility, construction, relocation and returning the original site to its owners Test Valley Borough Council will be £1.2 million pounds." "Until the new facility is ready the existing Andover HWRC in Shepherds Spring Lane will continue to operate the usual service to local residents right up until the day before the new site opens."