MEMBERS of Cotswold District Council will be calling for Fosse Cross tip to return to previous longer opening hours and to re-open on Tuesdays.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, December 11, a motion to ask Gloucestershire County Council for the changes was backed by a majority of councillors.

Councillors agreed that savings arising from the reduced opening times would result in Cotswold District Council having to pay more to clear up anticipated increases in fly tipping and to collect increased amounts of residual waste accumulating at homes.

Cllr Jenny Forde, who put forward the motion said: “I am very pleased that this motion gained cross-party support.

“We want HRCs to extend their opening hours so that they can be available at more convenient times - it needs to be as accessible and easy for people as possible.

“The new closure days were not well publicised and many residents have found the changes have been a problem for them.

“There feels like an increase in fly tipping too which costs the tax payer more to remove and blights our beautiful countryside.”

Opening hours were reduced as of October 28.

Leader of the council Cllr Tony Berry, added: “While we realise their need to trim the budget, we urge Gloucestershire County Council to reconsider this decision for the sake of residents across the Cotswolds – and, indeed , elsewhere in the county.”

Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member responsible for household recycling centres at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We looked at a range of options here - and discussed with district councils at the Joint Waste Committee in June and October.

"We’ve made sure there’s always a recycling centre available by varying opening days across the county, and the £200,000 savings these small changes make is being reinvested into frontline services.

“The roll out of new mobile compacters, improved layout and new signage will create a better customer experience for residents, but we will continue to monitor how the sites are used to make sure the new system is working for them.”