Have your say on hours cut at waste centres
PLANS to close waste and recycling centres in West Lancashire twice a week have gone to a public consultation.
Cost-cutting measures proposed by Lancashire County Council would reduce the centres in Burscough and Skelmersdale to fivedays-a-week operations.
The proposals come as the county council tries to save £734,000 by cutting opening hours at seven centres around the county.
Burscough is included in the proposal as one of the six centres which process the least waste, while Skelmersdale’s site would also have its opening days reduced as it is believed West Lancashire would still be sufficiently served with the two centres.
If the changes – which could result in redundancies – go ahead then the closure days will be staggered between Skelmersdale and Burscough so that one is open each day.
The current hours are 8am-7pm during April to September and 8am-5pm during October to March but this would change to 9am-5pm all year round.
The consultation, which was approved by the county council’s cabinet in December, began on Monday and will run until March 25. Other consultations to be set up cover changes to the provision of the Lancashire Break Time and Lancashire Wellbeing Service.
County Cllr Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “Like many other councils across the country the council continues to review how it delivers services given increasing demand and reducing resources.
“These consultations will give people the opportunity to voice their opinions about these services and help us better understand the impact any changes may have.
“We want to hear people’s views and the cabinet will consider them very carefully before making a decision.
“For practical and legal reasons, the council has to set and publish its budget before the consultation exercise is concluded but we have the flexibility to make any changes necessary after considering the views expressed in the consultation.”
“We remain committed to providing the best services we can to the people of Lancashire, and particularly to protecting services for the most vulnerable in our communities.”
To respond to the consultation online or request a paper consultation, visit lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/consultation