Two Bucks rubbish tips look set to close down while others will operate at reduced opening hours if council chiefs approve controversial plans next week.

More than 6,000 Bucks residents responded Bucks County Council’s (BCC) consultation on proposals to close down the Bledlow Ridge and Burnham recycling centres in a bid to slash spending on the services by £1.2 million.

Council officers have now recommended that the Bledlow Ridge centre should be closed down from April, while the Burnham site should be shut from September 30 – however a final decision will be made at the beginning of September following a financial review.

A council report states the Bledlow Ridge site “has the fewest visitors” out of all Bucks recycling centres and is the most expensive to run due to low volumes of waste passing through it.

However the news will come as a blow to thousands of concerned residents who backed a petition launched by The Risboroughs councillor, Bill Bendyshe-Brown, fighting the closure of the centre.

Officers have also recommended the tips in Burnham, Chesham and Rabans Lane, Aylesbury, will be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays, reducing opening hours from seven to five days a week from April.

Charges are also set to be enforced for the disposal of non-household rubbish, such as construction and demolition waste, including a £4 charge for the disposal of tyres and £6 per 25 litre bag of plasterboard.

Officers have also recommended fly-tipping is monitored closely once the changes come into force amid concerns cases of illegally dumped waste could increase due to the changes.

BCC’s cabinet will have the final say on plans during a meeting on Monday, January 7.

A report published on BCC’s website states: “The council is facing a challenging financial position.

“In order to deliver a sustainable budget for the future a household recycling centre service review has been undertaken aiming to achieve £1.25m of savings from services that are currently provided over and above the statutory minimum requirements.

“The council also wishes to continue to deliver a sustainable and customer focused waste management solution.

“The recommendations in this report address short to medium term financial pressures.

“Future growth demands and the need for household recycling centre site betterment in the medium to long term will need to be considered by the future unitary council.”