A RECYCLING centre is facing closure due to lack of funding from central government.

A consultation has begun this week into regional recycling centres, some of which are now considered unsustainable by Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC). Burnham Recycling Centre, Crow Piece Lane, is one of the centres that is being considered for closure.

BCC said that its ten centres were 'well used and extremely popular', but cautioned that the council is having to reduce costs across all its services due to dwindling funding from central government.

BCC cabinet member for planning and environment, Bill Chapple OBE said: "We have an extremely tough budget to meet from April 2019 onwards and this means facing up to some difficult decisions.

"There is a proposal to permanently close at least one site, with the preferred option being Bledlow. We are also including other proposals for closing two sites, Bledlow and Burnham, and to bring in selected weekday closures on days when the sites at Burnham, Chesham and Aylesbury (Rabans Lane) are less used."

Unlike many other counties, the recycling centres do not charge disposal fees for common types of waste such as car tyres and rubble, however, these fees may now be introduced to help keep the network running.

Cllr Chapple said: "We’re also proposing to introduce charging at all sites for specific waste that we don't legally have to accept for free.

"I completely understand that people don't like being faced with extra charges, however, I have taken into account the fact that less than a third of waste falls into this category, so the charges won't affect everyone and it also brings us into line with what other councils do.

"Of course, there are other areas where we have genuine choice and that's where an open and honest consultation is so important. For example, we’re looking for views on which two weekdays people would prefer Burnham (if this site remains open), Chesham and Aylesbury (Rabans Lane) to be closed on, and also what Buckinghamshire residents think about people from outside the county using our recycling centres, which is of course an extra cost to local county taxpayers."

The consultation runs until October 22, and can be accessed at www.buckscc.gov.uk/hrc-review. A number of drop-in events are also scheduled to help gather people's views, the closest of which will be held in High Wycombe Library, Eden Place, on September 7 from 10am to 1pm.