Rubbish - Council takes axe to HRCs

Household recycling centres in Wiltshire are being cut back by the council's Conservative administration. As of July 13th, the centres will each be closed for two days a week, though they'll all be open Saturday-Sunday-Monday and the closure days will be different for different towns, so anyone desperate for a tip will still be able to find one.

The reduction in both days and hours represents a 42% cut in the level of service. Currently the Trowbridge HRC gets very congested at weekends with queueing traffic spilling onto Canal Road.

The HRCs were developed by the old district and county councils as a service to the people of Wiltshire, but are now seen by Wiltshire Council as just another asset to be stripped.

The hours of opening, which have already been reduced, will be cut again to just 10am to 4pm.

The council did not consult on the proposal.

The move will come in shortly after the introduction of charging for green waste collection. WC says it will 'monitor' the amount of fly-tipping in the county.

Two of the eleven tips are in this constituency: Trowbridge HRC will be closed on Thursdays and Fridays, and Warminster Wednesdays and Thursdays.