FURIOUS councillors in and around Pewsey are demanding to know why Wiltshire Council has not consulted them or residents about a proposal to close Everleigh Recycling Centre.

They only learned today it would be up for discussion at a Wiltshire Council Cabinet meeting in a bid to save around £65,000.

As a result of the uproar and lack of consultation several councillors successfully requested it be pulled from the agenda so further discussions can take place before a final decision is made, in the hopes the recycling centre does not close.

It comes months after Wiltshire Council announced recycling centres, run by Hills Waste Solutions, in the county would cut their opening times by two days.

“It’s not acceptable,” said Pewsey councillor Jerry Kunkler. “It was going to be on the agenda and it has been pulled.

“We weren’t made aware of it until very late last night. It was buried in the agenda and we have objected to it and will be taking it to a higher level.

“As far as we are concerned it shouldn’t close, we are a rural area and it is relatively busy. We will be having further negotiations and will work our way forward.”

The recycling centre is used by residents in Pewsey as well as all the neighbouring villages from the Collingbournes and Tidworth. Councillors Christopher Williams and Charles Howard from those areas also strongly expressed their disappointment at the meeting.

Coun Kunkler added: “I think there would be an outcry we have very little recycling facilities around here.”

In the agenda pack handed out to councillors today, it reads: “The [waste] service faces £1.450 million of pressure from increase collection and disposal forecast costs.

“The service is continually looking at options to balance these pressures and recommend that Everleigh Household Recycling Centre (HRC) is closed which will save an additional £0.065 million.

“It is recommended that £1.1 million will be drawn from reserves therefore, subject to the outturn, and further actions assessed in the following period. A further review of how the remaining £0.300 million can be funded will need to be undertaken.”

Pewsey Parish Council is now actively pursuing all avenues to retain the facility. 

Charles Lynd, 48, of The Knapp Close, Collingbourne Ducis, uses the centre once a week. He heard a rumour about the proposed closure yesterday.

“It’s shocking," he said. "It’s been cut down to five days a week and to close it completely is shocking.

“I appreciate there needs to be some savings but what we meant to do? The household collection are now only two weeks as well. It is just going to increase fly-tipping.”

Wiltshire Council and Hills Group have been contacted for a comment.