The Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet have agreed to proposals to help balance its budget by changing the opening times of Lancashire’s household waste recycling centres.
Lytham Recycling Centre located on Saltcotes Road continues to remain open 7 days a week which includes weekends and bank holidays. However it will still be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Currently there are extended opening hours during the summer from 8am to 7pm, and the centre opens 8am to 5pm during the winter months.
Recent surveys have shown that visitor numbers are relatively low at the beginning and end of the day, meaning the tip opening times will be changing to 9am – 5pm all year round.
A report taken to the Lancashire County Council Cabinet meeting outlined the results of public consultation to the change in opening hours. The response was an overall equal outcome for and against, however recommendations were made to ensure that the site remains open on Bank Holidays.
Concerns were raised that reduced opening hours could lead to an increase in fly tipping. This was addressed in the report which found that most fly tipping is carried out by unscrupulous businesses who do not want to pay for their waste to be disposed of properly. There has been no evidence of fly tipping having increased when Lancashire recycling centres had been closed in the past.
Councillor Ben Aitken, Chairman of the Environment Health and Housing Committee for Fylde Council add that “it is important that all residents check that the company they are planning to use to remove their household waste, holds an official waste carriers licence with the Environment Agency. As the householder can be held responsible for any waste that is fly tipped and is traced back to them which can result in a fine being issued.”
The new tip opening times are due to be implemented from 1 November 2019, and if you would like to know more about what you can recycle please visit our website https://new.fylde.gov.uk/recyclingcentre/
