Alarm over fly-tipping

Plans to close Stafford's recycling centre two days a week have been blasted by two leading borough councillors.

Their biggest fears are that it is sending out the wrong message to householders and will lead to an uspsurge in fly-tipping in the countryside.

Councillor Stan Highfield, cabinet member for environment and health, says he is also "disappointed" that the council was not consulted over the decision to close the St Albans Road site on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"What you have to bear in mind is that most of the stuff being taken up there is not the sort of materials that go in the household blue bin," said Councillor Highfield.

"People take up mattresses, fridges, wood etc. I was very sorry in many ways to hear Staffordshire County Council had decided to close the site two days a week. It is used by a lot of local residents."

Councillor Highfield added: "I would have liked to see it remain open – but we at the borough council were not consulted, we were not asked for our views."

He said other councils whose recycling centres have been similarly affected were also upset at not being given the chance to have their say.

"It would have been better if all the district councils had been consulted. I am a bit disappointed about it."

He said that an increase in fly-tipping was always a possibility, and he would be monitoring the situation very closely.

His views were echoed by Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Barry Stamp. "I am not very happy about it. We are going to get people throwing away stuff wherever they can," he said. "I was quite surprised when I heard the news; whenever I go up there, whatever time and whatever day, there are always plenty of people around.

"We have to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle, not more difficult. This is sending out the wrong message."

Some drivers have complained about being held up as they enter the site by staff questioning the contents of vehicles but Councillor Stamp said this was to enable them to be directed to the right part of the site. "I find it quite helpful."

Councillor John Wakefield, the county council's cabinet member for economic development and sustainable communities, says closing centres around the county for two days a week will save the authority £380,000 a year.

He says that money will be used on their front line public services. "Mid-week at our recycling centres is really getting slow," he added. "It's all about using resources wisely as a well managed council and working with our partners to maximise efficiency of our operations."

People could plan ahead and visit less often, he said.