Knutsford tip's new opening hours as council looks to cut costs

Cheshire East Council has announced temporary and trial changes to household waste recycling centres (HWRC) in the borough.

It comes as part of a bid to make ‘essential savings’ in 2024/25.

The centre in Knutsford will now open for an extra hour throughout the week while other centres, including those in Middlewich and Poynton, will be shutting entirely.

Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: “The emergency closure of some HWRCs in the borough was agreed as part of this year’s budget and we have been working hard to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.

“As part of this, we are timing the mitigation measures – the booking system, later opening hours, and the mobile HWRC – to go live at the same time as the emergency closures.”

Middlewich HWRC is one of three set to close, along with Poynton and Bollington (Image: Google Maps)

These changes are being introduced separately to an ongoing review of HWRCs, with a public consultation on proposals for the longer-term provision of HWRC services having recently closed.

With the council currently forecasting a funding gap of £100 million over the next four years, ‘difficult decisions’ are having to be made to ensure the council can continue to support those most in need.

Residents of these towns will be able to use a mobile household waste recycling service or visit any of the other HWRCs in the borough.

The mobile service will alternate between the three towns, with each receiving one visit per month on a Saturday morning.

Elsewhere, HWRCs in Alsager, Crewe, Macclesfield and Knutsford will open for an extra hour during weekdays – now closing at 6pm.

This change comes into effect from Monday (August 5).

However, anyone wishing to visit these tips on weekends or bank holidays will need to book a slot online in advance to help manage queues and waiting times.

The council has said there will be no limit to the number of times people can visit.

Cllr Warren added: “Over the next few weeks, we’ll be providing residents with more information about the booking system for weekends and Bank Holidays, as well as how residents in the Bollington, Poynton and Middlewich areas can access the mobile HWRC.

“The latest information will be found online on the council’s website at cheshireeast.gov.uk/hwrc and I encourage residents to keep checking back as this webpage will continue to be updated as more details are confirmed.

“For now, and until the changes come into effect on August 5, I’d like to remind residents that all HWRCs in Cheshire East can be accessed as normal.”