Cost to recycle at Crewkerne cut for three-month trial

The cost of using a community recycling centre in Somerset is to fall from £2 a visit to £1.20.

Crewkerne Town Council said the three-month trial was to encourage recycling and use of the centre which had been threatened with closure.

A town council spokeswoman said some 8,000 people had signed a petition to save the centre on Blacknell Lane Industrial Estate.

Centres at Coleford, Middlezoy and Dulverton will continue to charge £2.

'Cost underwritten'

The centres were due to close to save £300,000 a year as part of savings by Conservative-run Somerset County Council.

By changing their legal status they could be kept open as community facilities with people paying to use them.

The town council spokeswoman added that it would underwrite the trial up to a maximum of £10,000 in case there was a shortfall in cash.

"This was agreed at an EGM of the town council on Friday morning.

"At present the operatives will take the money but if the trial is successful and people continue to use the facility the partnership running the site may look at installing a coin-operated barrier," she added.