Residents were "cross" and "angry" this morning when they turned up at Horsley tip to find it closed.
New opening hours for Gloucestershire’s household recycling centres (HRC) come into force this week, meaning the dump - also known as Pyke Quarry - will from now on be shut every Wednesday.
“I’m very, very angry that the tip is closed,” Elizabeth Quinn told the SNJ when she arrived at the locked-up tip.
“I’ve come all the way from Eastcombe. It’s a long drive and I’ve had to load up the car to get rid of some bathroom things from my house.
“And now I’ve got to take off all these heavy bags I’ve spent the morning lifting.”
Another frustrated resident who arrived today suggested the closure would mean more rubbish would be dumped illegally.
“Fly-tipping will increase," said Jill Simmons, who volunteers with the Cotswold Wardens.
Jill Simmons with her garden waste. Photos: Simon Pizzey
“We have done so much work over fifty years to keep the countryside clean and I’m very cross."
These fears are echoed by Simon Pickering, a Green who chairs Stroud District Council’s environment committee.
Cllr Pickering said: “There has been no formal consultation with us and we are very concerned that this will lead to an increase in fly-tipping.
“The cost of clearing this up falls on the district council, not the county.”
He added: “Just cutting hours is a very regressive approach.
Bins at Horsley tip
“If finances are the issue why don’t the cabinet take a more entrepreneurial approach and open a tip shop, perhaps in partnership with a local charity, splitting the profits from the resell of usable goods.
A spokesperson for the county council replied by saying it had spoken with district councils in June and October.
They added: “This change provides over £200,000 to support a frontline service and we’ve made sure there’s always a recycling centre available by varying opening days across the county.
A spokesperson for the Joint Waste Committee - a partnership between the county council and district councils - said: "Longer term we are looking into a range of options including running a recycling shop facility."
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