MIDDLEWICH could be set to lose its household recycling centre amid £100 million of Cheshire East Council savings.

The authority has launched an online consultation to determine residents’ views on the future of the centres, with four main options to choose from – one including the closure of the Croxton Lane site.

Knutsford looks sets to retain its services, alongside Crewe and Macclesfield which have all been outlined as ‘core’ sites due to their location and functionality.

The borough currently has nine Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), and although the council’s preferred option is to close the ‘smallest and least efficient’ site at Arclid, the consultation could result in the closure of six of the sites including Middlewich, Poynton, Congleton, Bollington and Alsager.

Another option is to introduce permits at the Middlewich site, which is one of the smallest and most expensive in the borough, to reduce ‘cross-border abuse’.

The document says: “Cheshire East Council, alongside councils country-wide, is facing a significant financial challenge due to a reduction in funding from HM Government. These cuts in funding are compounded by rising inflation and increased demand on services due to an increasing, and ageing, population.

“Overall, the council is expecting to see cash reductions of almost £100 million for the three year period 2017 to 2020, as compared with the current baseline budget for 2016/17. The council is currently conducting a budget consultation on how these financial challenges will be met.”

According to a review of recycling centres undertaken in 2014, only around 20 per cent of household waste was taken to the HWRCs.

Around half of the savings, which the council must make between 2017 and 2020, will be generated by increasing council tax by 3.99 per cent, and the other £49 million will be made through cuts to ‘service efficiencies’.

The estimated maximum savings to be made by the closure of recycling centres could be more than £1 million, if the council opts to close Arclid and Poynton.

Three of the options would include the reduction of opening hours from 8.30am to 5pm in summer and 8.30am to 4pm in winter, which would be see the average opening times go from 10 hours to eight hours per day, with Knutsford being one of three sites with ‘charity reuse shops’ introduced.

To find out more and complete the consultation visit surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/HWRCConsultation.