CAMPAIGNERS opposed to controversial plans to shut a waste recycling plant in the Ribble Valley claim Lancashire County Council's plans are illegal.

County council bosses are proposing to close the Petre Arms household waste recycling site in Langho to help plug a £12.5 million hole in its budget.

However, councillors say the authority is in breach of its "statutory duty" to provide "reasonable" access to a waste recycling plant in the area.

In a report to the Ribble Valley's Lancashire Local meeting held in Longridge, it suggested closing the site would provide an annual saving of £342,000.

Finance chiefs say the cuts are necessary to keep next year's council tax increase to five per cent.

Conservative Ribble Valley councillor John Hill said: "This is a false economy to say they are going to be making savings.

"I do feel Lancashire County Council is in breach of its statutory duty. It has a duty to provide people the opportunity to deposit their household waste and have reasonable access to the service.

"It's not a question of savings, it's a question of fulfilling our duty to make sure they are available at reasonable times to deposit waste free of charge."

He added: "What about the people living in Read and Simonstone? If we lose Padiham and the Petre site they will have to go to Great Harwood.

"Lancashire County Council is fundamentally in breach of its statutory duty. An injunction should be put in place to stop this from happening. This is quite simply disgraceful and I deplore the way the news came out. It is unacceptable that staff learnt from the papers about possible closures. A letter has been sent to Hazel Harding expressing this point of view."

The site, which has been open for 25 years, serves around 16,000 people.

Billington and Old Langho councillor Graham Sowter said: "The Petre site collected 4,170 tonnes of waste last year, where is that going to go if it is closed?"

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Even if the council decides to close three centres we would still provide 18 which would still leave the council with amongst the best provision nationally.

"Investment in kerbside services means that there is less need for people to travel to the Household Waste Recycling Centres."