SHORTENED opening hours and the introduction of charges for DIY waste, gas bottles and car tyres will be made at all Surrey’s rubbish tips in a cost-cutting move to save £1.3 million.

A new post will be created to clamp down on fly-tipping in response to public concern the changes could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.

Under the plans signed off by the county council’s Cabinet last week and due to be implemented next February, Surrey’s 15 community recycling centres will open later in the morning and close earlier in the evening.

This includes the Farnham community recycling centre in Guildford Road.

Reducing opening hours proved to be the favourite option in feedback to the 11-week public consultation on how best to make £1.3 million savings, which triggered more than 4,500 responses.

Further options were charging for household waste, using clear sacks for general rubbish, opening reuse shops on sites and closing some sites.

The new charges will apply to residents dropping off tyres, large gas bottles and larger loads of non-household waste such as rubble and plasterboard.

Just under half of those responding to the consultation voiced concern the changes would increase fly-tipping.   Over the last year, Surrey County Council has had to dispose of more than 2,500 tonnes of fly-tipped material collected by district and borough councils, which is a “significant increase”.

The total is set to be 4,000 tonnes by the end of this year and the disposal cost will be £400,000 on top of the costs incurred by local councils.

Surrey proposes to create a new post to help co-ordinate the work of existing enforcement agencies in Surrey to share intelligence and provide a focal point for anti-tipping measures.

Surrey’s cabinet member for environment Mike Goodman said: “We have listened to what people have told us and while we need to make savings due to the huge financial pressures we face, we have been able to put forward proposals which maintain a full network of Community Recycling Centres.

“By fitting opening hours around demand we will achieve better value for money from these centres and ensure we continue to offer a high-quality service.”

The Liberal Democrats condemned the Conservative-run council’s decision as “flawed”. Hazel Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition said: “This decision goes against the wishes of Surrey residents as shown in a petition to the county council with over 1,200 signatures opposing these changes. The views of Surrey residents have simply been ignored.

“Surrey residents were unhappy about the county council’s flawed consultation which only gave unacceptable options but did not give an option of keeping the tips unchanged. Residents said that reduced opening hours would make it more difficult for them to dispose of their waste and to recycle. This is bound to increase fly-tipping which is already a big problem in Surrey and is getting worse.”