Chichester district's mobile household waste and recycling sites could be axed

The current service runs at Hambrook, Selsey and The Witterings once a week, at Bosham, Petworth and Fernhurst once a fortnight, Wisborough Green, Kirdford, and South Harting once every four weeks, and Lurgashall twice a year.

Meanwhile permanent household waste and recycling sites (HWRS) at Midhurst, Billingshurst, and Bognor Regis could have their hours and days of operations reduced under West Sussex County Council proposals.

A consultation on the changes, which could save the county council £2m a year, is set to start on Monday May 16.

The draft consultation form reads: “We appreciate that these proposals will have an impact on some residents but in every single case we have tried hard to find solutions which save money, but minimise the inconvenience to the largest number of residents.

“We think this is the right thing to do when budgets are being squeezed ever harder, as we think we should be prioritising the money we spend on people, not waste.”

Currently, all HWRSs across West Sussex are open seven days each week, with the exception of Midhurst which is open six days.

Westhampnett would remain open seven days a week, apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, but Midhurst would be closed on Monday and Sunday, Bognor Regis on Thursday and Friday, and Billingshurst Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meanwhile total opening hours for all the sites would be reduced to 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Sunday including bank holidays.

Currently sites are open 8am-7pm Monday to Friday and 9am-7pm during the weekends and bank holidays during the summer. In the winter they open at the same time but close at 5pm, two hours earlier.

Other proposed changes would see the tips charge to dispose non-household waste such as soil, hard-core, plasterboard and car and van tyres, as this costs the county council around £600,000 a year.

A charge of £4 per bag and the same per tyre would be introduced.

Lorry, tractor and mobile plant tyres would no longer be accepted as around 100 are received each year and cost between £20 and £80 to dispose each.

The consultation document argues that other county councils who have introduced similar changes have not seen an increase in fly-tipping as a result.

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