Tip to permanently close in cost-cutting plan

Leicestershire County Council had consulted on changes to its waste sites

A council has chosen to permanently close a tip in a bid to save money.

Tips at Market Harborough, Shepshed and Somerby were all threatened with closure as part of plans by Leicestershire County Council to save £90m by 2026.

The authority voted on Friday to close the Somerby waste site, near Melton Mowbray.

But the tips at Shepshed and Market Harborough will remain open and the opening days reduced from October, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The decision was made after a second public consultation launched following strong disagreement from members of the public at the proposed three-tip closure.

The future use or sale of the Somerby site, to close in October, will be considered in due course, the council said.

Speaking at the meeting on Friday, councillor Ozzy O’Shea said the council had not wanted to close the tips.

He said: “I think we’ve really done the best that we actually can do to go out to consultation, and we have listened and we have moved and acted.

"I’m not going to say I’m very happy with this, because I do not like seeing services reduced, but we’re in the best position we can be.”

The Somerby site, in Knossington Road, will close in October