RESIDENTS and councillors are challenging the ‘short-sighted’ decision to slash opening hours at the Northwich waste recycling centre.

The tip, in Leicester Street, has been closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays since Cheshire West and Chester Council opted to cut its opening times in March.

Borough chiefs made the decision in a bid to cut costs, following the council’s Let’s Talk consultation, which highlighted a wish among residents to prioritise care services for vulnerable residents.

But five months into the tip’s reduced hours, both Northwich residents and political opponents are ramping up pressure to see the move be reversed.

Cllr James Pearson, Conservative CWAC member for Davenham and Moulton, believes the council’s decision to cut the tip’s opening hours has led to an increase in fly-tipping – and sends out the wrong environmental message for Northwich.

“It’s incredibly short-sighted to restrict the opening times,” he told the Guardian.

“We are all busy people, and it’s important that the tip is open as long as possible because the public needs access to it.

“Under the last Conservative council we prioritised recycling, and this Labour council should be prioritising that commitment.

“If Labour’s priorities are different and they don’t care about the environment then they have given out the right message.”

Wincham Parish Council, which neighbours the tip, has also challenged CWAC on the move – suggesting it prevents residents from recycling their waste, when they should be encouraged to recycle more often.

But Cllr Sam Naylor, Labour CWAC member for Winnington and Castle, believes the decision is crucial to help protect care services for vulnerable residents in west Cheshire.

He told the Guardian: “What people have to remember is that between 2010 and 2020, CWAC will have its Government funding cut by £335 million, so it must cut its cloth accordingly.

“It is trying to protect adult social care and care for looked-after children, which people said they wanted. The bottom line is we’ve got to save money somehow.

“Residents who are desperate to use the tip on Wednesdays or Thursdays can still go to Winsford, and the centre is still at its busiest on Sundays.”

Several bags of rubbish were left outside the tip by residents when it first changed its opening hours.

Cllr Naylor insists this situation has now improved though, and warns that action will be taken to prevent fly-tipping.

“We are quite fortunate that most people are reasonable,” he added.

“We’ve always had a certain amount of fly-tipping and there were issues outside the tip, but this has improved since automatic number plate recognition cameras were installed.

“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence, and the council will prosecute offenders where it can.”

Do you agree with Cllr Naylor, or was CWAC wrong to cut the opening times? Have your say below.