TIPS in Whitchurch and Oswestry could be spared the council's cost-cutting axe – but may face reduced opening days instead.

A public consultation will start on Tuesday (April 9) which will ask residents their views on the future of five household recycling centres in the county.

Shropshire Council currently runs tips in Bridgnorth, Craven Arms, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch.

But the authority's approved budget for this financial year includes £62million of budget cuts, and as part of that two of its five household recycling centres could close to save a mere £14,000.

Now Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member in charge of waste management, has said that there is an alternative proposal being considered.

“It (the consultation) will ask people’s views on options that could help keep all HRCs open either through adding a small additional fee for garden waste collections on top of the suggested £1 a week equivalent subscription, or by reducing the numbers of days a week that HRCs are open to help reduce costs,” said councillor Nellins.

OTHER NEWS:

“The public’s views will then help inform any decision on these issues that will help towards the £62m savings the council must find, and any decision is expected to be made by council in the summer.”

This comes after Telford & Wrekin Council leader Shaun Davies warned that residents living in the Shropshire Council authority area could be charged for using tips in Telford.

In a social media post Cllr Davies said that Telford & Wrekin residents will ‘never pay’ to use tips under the current Labour administration, but they would ‘mitigate against’ the impact if Bridgnorth was selected to be closed, piling the pressure on the county's other recycling centres.

Councillor Davies wrote to his counterpart at Shropshire Council, Lezley Picton, to outline his concerns.

He said: “I am concerned that the potential closure of Bridgnorth Household Recycling Centre could have a negative impact on household recycling centres in Telford and Wrekin – notably Halesfield.

“I appreciate the financial challenges facing councils across the country and that difficult decisions need to be taken against a backdrop of reduced central government funding but I must inform you that Telford & Wrekin Council will monitor the progress and respond to the consultation, and, if enacted will look at all options to mitigate against the impact of the closure of Bridgnorth HRC.

“This will include but not limited to charging Shropshire residents and businesses for use of household recycling centres within Telford and Wrekin.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

“I hope that this situation is something that can be avoided.”

Telford & Wrekin Council currently run tips in both Hortonwood and Halesfield.

If Shropshire Council did close the tip at Bridgnorth then Shropshire Council constituents would be expected to use their closest alternative which could be Craven Arms (21 miles) or Shrewsbury (24 miles) away.

In comparison the facilities at Halesfield and Hortonwood are just nine and 16 miles from the current facility at Bridgnorth.

For Bridgnorth residents recycling centres in Wolverhampton (15 miles), Stourbridge (16 miles) and Kidderminster (14 miles) would also be closer than Shrewsbury.