Tidy tip changes on hold

The cuts had originally been proposed to be introduced in October this year at the Bells Brook waste site, as well as other Tidy Tips across Central Bedfordshire.

But in Central Beds Council’s latest budget the change – which would save the council £70,000 per year – has been put on hold as the need for savings has been “mitigated by income from charging for some materials”.

The reduced days is now pencilled in to be introduced in October 2019 should the council finances dictate it necessary.

A council spokesman said: “It [reduced opening] is something we would rather not do. It is now down for 2019-20 and is an option for further down the line should we need to.

“We are trying to find savings and we’d rather charge for items that are likely to bring in a cost for us to dispose of such as tyres, plasterboard, half empty paint pots.”