Liberal Democrat Campaigner Lesley Bushnell and Liberal Democrat County Councillors have presented a 3,245 signature petition to the County Council’s Cabinet calling for the Community Recycling Centres (“CRCs”) to remain open and for the proposal to increase charges for dumping waste to be withdrawn.

The Liberal Democrats also encouraged residents to respond to the County Council’s own consultation – and 13,637 did so making it by far the largest response that the County Council has ever received to such a consultation.

In response, the Tories have watered down their proposals but most CRCs across the County will no longer be open seven days a week.

When the decision is implemented, the Dorking Tip will only be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and the Cranleigh Tip will only open on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The Leatherhead Tip will open six days a week as it will close on a Friday.

This is a set of ill thought out proposals. CRCs are a success story – they provided residents with a helpful and convenient method of disposing of waste; they helped the County Council to improve waste collection; they made a major contribution to improving our environment; and they were a significant deterrent to fly tipping.

The closure days and withdrawal of the free daily allowance to dump DIY waste are self-defeating and unacceptable and we are fearful that this will lead to increased fly-tipping and damage to the environment.