Waste site closure and reduced hours at locations across the county proposed by council

Leicestershire County Council is proposing to close one waste site and reduce opening hours at other locations. If approved, the changes would be expected to take place this autumn.

The changes are set to be discussed at the council's cabinet meeting on Friday, May 24. Two consultations on waste site proposals have taken place, and the council said feedback from residents had played an important part in modifying the original plans.

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and green agenda, said the new plans will "balance the needs of our residents" while still saving the council money.

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If approved by Cabinet next Friday, the following changes to waste site arrangements would take place in the coming months:

Closing the site in Somerby

Market Harborough to open three days a week, and Shepshed to open two days a week

Closing all sites on Christmas Eve

Changing summer opening hours at all recycling and household waste sites

Kibworth would move to being open four days a week as part of the plans to keep Market Harborough open and ensure a seven-day- a-week opening across both sites. Bottesford would remain open three days per week.

All sites would reduce their opening hours during the summer between April and September from April 2025. They would also be closed on Christmas Eve as the council said usage across Leicestershire was low compared to the rest of the year.

The council said the savings - totalling £300,000 per year - had been made with the least impact after listening to residents' concerns, including the retention of later tipping times on Tuesdays to Fridays during the summer months.

The council said it had "repeatedly highlighted the current financial pressures, including a budget gap of £85m by 2028, due to spiralling costs and a growing demand on services".

The council currently runs 14 waste sites, which it said was more than other East Midlands counties, and claims Somerby costs the council significantly more per visit than the more frequently visited sites.

Coun Pain said: “During our consultations we listened and then we listened again. The feedback from the public was vital in shaping these final proposals and I’m grateful for everyone’s input.

“These new plans balance the needs of our residents alongside our need to save money. We’re super-efficient but pressures are growing, and the savings made from these plans will help to reduce our budget gap.”

“Regretfully, we do recognise that the loss of Somerby will have an impact on people who use the site, but Melton Mowbray is an alternative site a relatively short drive away and will be open five days a week.”