FEARS that a popular waste collection service in Haslemere is to face the axe have been allayed this week.

The Surrey county councillor for Haslemere, Christine Stevens, confirmed that the Saturday collection cart at the Wey Hill Car park will continue to run despite rumours to the contrary.

The news follows a meeting between Mrs Stevens and the portfolio holder for waste, David Davis.

But changes could be made to the way the service operates to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly.

"There are no plans to remove the waste collection facility from the car park," said Mrs Stevens. "However it does need to be properly managed to ensure that material suitable for recycling can be separated from other waste and it needs to sit within the context of Waverley and Surrey's recycling plans for the future."

Last week, doubts over its future arose following comments from Surrey County Council's officer for waste management, Patrick Gill.

Mr Gill had spoken of its imminent closure, highlighting that Surrey County Council, which funds the service, wanted to encourage residents to use more environmentally friendly alternatives such as the recycling site at Witley.

He highlighted that a wide variety of rubbish including garden waste, metal and glass were being dumped in the cart, which was an inefficient way of dealing with the town's waste.

The threat of closure hanging over this heavily used collection point prompted considerable concern.

The issue dominated last week's town council meeting and members resolved to write to Surrey County Council to reiterate the concerns already raised by Mrs Stevens.

She had argued that it was unreasonable to expect residents to travel further to Witley to a recycling scheme and that the removal of the collection could lead to an increase in fly-tipping and garden bonfires.

There was further criticism of the apparent lack of consultation with local residents.

But moves to make the facility more efficient could be on the cards.

"Surrey's local committee for the Waverley area will be reviewing the way the service is delivered locally," added Mrs Stevens.

"I can assure residents that when this happens no decisions will be made without plenty of local public consultation," she said.