Hertfordshire Lib Dems scrap Tory plans to slash recycling access.

The freedom for residents to use recycling centres will be protected - after Lib Dems scrapped disastrous Tory plans to reduce opening hours, and force users to pre-book visits.

It's one of the first major decisions since the party took control of Hertfordshire County Council after last month’s elections.

Back in February, the previous Conservative leadership decided to slash access to four major recycling centres - Stevenage, Ware, Waterdale and Welwyn Garden City.

Each would be closed for two days a week.

And at all sixteen centres across Hertfordshire, people would be required to book a timed visit in advance - or be turned away from the gates.

Liberal Democrats argued the draconian changes would harm the environment and inconvenience residents - which is why they've now been cancelled.

Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, the new executive member for environment, said:

"Scrapping these wrong-headed, penny-pinching plans - and quickly - was a top priority for us after forming the new administration.

"Recycling centres play a vital role in people's everyday lives. Crucially, they help ensure waste gets repurposed instead of ending up in landfill.

"Closing the sites at Stevenage, Ware, Waterdale and Welwyn Garden City, for two days a week, would have severely restricted access.

"A booking system would be inconvenient and impractical. If you're doing DIY, having a clear-out, or working on a garden project, you don’t know how long the job will take.

“Planning a precise time for your visit to the recycling centre is very difficult and would cause many problems for residents.

"Lib Dems are proud to protect people's access to recycling - as part of our ambition to make Hertfordshire a greener place to live.

"Instead, we will now look for other, less disruptive ways to make efficiencies and ensure the recycling service offers best value for money".