Controversial plans to reduce opening hours at Waterdale Recycling Centre in Garston have been scrapped.
At a meeting of a key Cabinet Panel on Wednesday, June 11, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) confirmed that it will not be proceeding with plans to reduce opening hours at Waterdale, Stevenage, Ware and Welwyn Garden City.
As reported in Garston News earlier this year, the changes would have seen the centres’ opening hours reduced from seven days a week to five days a week. An online booking system was also proposed by the previous HCC administration.
It was estimated that these changes would save HCC £500,000 a year.
The U-turn is one of the first major decisions since the Lib Dems took control of HCC from the Conservatives after last month’s elections.
Various local councillors, including Leader of Three Rivers District Council councillor Stephen Giles-Meshurst, formally objected to the changes when they were proposed in February.
Councillor Paul Zukowskyj, executive member for environment, growth and transport, said: “Recycling centres are well used and important to our residents, and there’s no doubt that a service like this supports our ambition to make our environment greener. That’s why we’ve made the decision to scrap the plans for reducing opening days at the four sites that are currently open every day.
“We also know that when doing a DIY project or clearing garden waste, you don’t always know how long the job will last, so planning a time to take waste to the recycling centre or donate items to be sold in our Reuse shops just isn’t practical. That’s why we’ve halted proposals for a booking system too and will be looking at alternative options which we’ll share with our residents in due course.”
Photo: Hertfordshire Lib Dems
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