PETERSFIELD’S waste recycling centre is to remain open – but this could come at a cost for users.

Many residents feared the centre in Bedford Road would be closed due to cuts in the government funding given to Hampshire County Council, the authority which runs the network of 24 centres across the county.

However, the county council has confirmed all of its centres will remain open for the foreseeable future but opening hours will be cut each day, all centres will be closed on Thursdays, and charges for using the centres could be implemented in future­ – subject to the government allowing the council to go ahead with this idea.

The plans for the future of Petersfield’s waste recycling centre were announced after a county-wide public consultation drew responses from almost 12,000 residents.

These responses helped the council to formulate a plan which needed to make a saving of £1.55m.

Executive member for environment and transport Councillor Rob Humby said: “Hampshire’s residents told us very clearly their priority was to keep all the centres open and I am genuinely pleased that we have found a way to make this happen.

“We do need to save money in the running costs of the service this year, but we will do this by opening two hours later each day and closing on a Thursday.

“We’ve achieved additional savings through a new management contract; and we will also introduce a small charge for people living outside of Hampshire so they can continue to use our service. We will also be opening up the service for the first time for small businesses to use, on a chargeable basis.”

From January 1, 2017, winter opening hours for the Bedford Road centre will become 11am-4pm each day except for Thursdays. From April 1, 2017, summer opening will be 11am-6pm each day apart from Thursdays.

People from outside the county will be charged £2 to use the sites from September 1, 2017, and charges will be brought in for the disposal of soil, rubble and asbestos from October 1 this year.

Some businesses will now be able to use the centres for a trade waste charge. Charging to dispose of household waste requires a change in legislation, which the county council is to pursue.