Norfolk recycling centres could close one day a week to save £200k

Under the plans, the sites would be shut on a Wednesday in a bid to save £200,000

Recycling centres in Norfolk could close one day a week as part of cost cutting measures by the county council.

The authority said it had to make £52.2m of savings in its budget for the next financial year.

Under the plans, all the recycling centre in the county would shut on Wednesdays to save £200,000 a year.

Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance, said: "It had been an extraordinarily difficult budget to put together."

Mr Jamieson said difficult choices had to be made

The council was also considering the introduction of a booking system to give people a time slot to get rid of their waste.

Mr Jamieson said: "We are having to make extremely difficult choices.

"Over the next few years, we are going to have to continue to make these difficult choices as well, unless there is a different way in which governments can look to fund local government."

The council's planned budget also included an assumption of a 4.99% increase in its share of Council Tax for 2024/25. That meant an average Band D household would pay £1,672.11 a year.

'Death by a thousand cuts'

Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at county hall, said: "I think we are in a serious financial position and that can't be underestimated.

"We have reached breaking point up and down the country. We are being made the scapegoat for the government and I think over the last few years it's been death by a thousand cuts."

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at the county council, said Norfolk Tories had been "failed by their government and they in turn are failing Norfolk".

Ben Price, Green group leader at Norfolk County Council, added: "The Conservatives have failed to provide financial stability either at the county council or nationally and can no longer be trusted with our local economy or government."