Shropshire recycling centres' opening hours to be cut

From March, the county's recycling centres will open from 9am until 5pm each day.

In previous years, between late March and late October the centres have opened until 7pm on weekdays and until 6pm on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Council bosses say introducing 9am to 5pm opening all year round will save an estimated £50,000 a year.

But the decision has come under fire from Shropshire Councillor Alan Mosley who said cutting the opening hours during the summer months will make it more difficult for workers to recycle.

Mr Mosley said: "People who are at work are not going to be able to recycle in the evening.

"Various recycling services are being reduced and I want urgent action to be taken to reduce the cuts to the service."

Shropshire's five recycling centres are based in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch and Craven Arms.

Council bosses said the changes followed a review of visitor statistics at each recycling plant, which showed that on average fewer than five per cent of visitors choosing to visit the centres after 5pm. The busiest time for visitors was between 11am and 1pm.

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for waste management, said: "With the council needing to save a further £9m this year, we carried out a review of household recycling centre opening hours to see if there was any scope to make savings by altering these times.

"A number of options were considered, but our priority was to keep the centres open every day, and at the times when most people visit the centres.