Bicycle recycling future undecided

A MEETING at the Coffs Harbour City Council Chambers will determine whether Coffs Harbour's Bicycle Recycling Centre at the Showground has a future in the city.

A MEETING at the Coffs Harbour City Council Chambers from 2pm on Friday will determine whether Coffs Harbour's Bicycle Recycling Centre at the Showground has a future in the city.

The Coffs Harbour Employment Support Service is pulling out after three years' involvement in the centre and will close the doors on October 26 if no rescuer can be found.

CHESS general manager Paul Kelly said the organisation had ploughed $175,000 into the recycling venture in Coffs Harbour and wanted to consolidate its bicycle recycling in Grafton, where a similar venture has found a niche in bicycle repairing which he says is filled in Coffs Harbour by commercial bike shops.

CHESS pre-employment manager John Gregory said no CHESS clients were working at the Coffs Harbour bicycle centre, but about 12 clients spent time at the Grafton centre on a weekly basis.

Mr Kelly said he had guaranteed to Coffs Harbour City Council's road safety and transport officer, Anne Shearer, that they would share the tools and equipment.

"I am sorry to see the service go," Ms Shearer said.

"We were instrumental in getting a grant to establish the shed, and then CHESS came on board when we invited agencies to run the project.

"Some of the committee members, council and the local bike shops also donated tools and fittings."

Originally published as Bicycle recycling future undecided