SEVEN public household waste tips across Lancashire, including four in the east of the county, are set to close two days a week to save cash.

The recycling centres at Longridge, Barnoldswick, Clitheroe and Haslingden will affected by the change.

They are scheduled to reduce their opening days from seven to five by shutting on two weekdays but will open at weekends.

Opening hours at all 15 of Lancashire County Council's tips - including Whinney Hill at Altham, Burnley, and Chorley - will be cut to 9am to 5pm.

The proposals, put forward in a report by officers, could save £734,000 a year from 2019/20.

All 15 centres currently open seven days a week. The Longridge, Barnoldswick, Clitheroe, Burscough, Carnforth, and Haslingden centres are the county’s quietest receiving less than 5,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Cllr Azhar Ali, leader of the opposition Labour group who represents Nelson East, said: "The Conservative administration is now looking to cut the recycling service which will increase the fly tipping across the out beautiful county.

"This is a false economy which will just pass the costs on to the borough councils who will have to clear up mess caused.

"In the end it is Lancashire tax payers who will have to pick up the costs, cuts in service, and environmental impact.

"This is another back door policy. It is a disgrace that local people are just left to pay more for less."

One Rawtenstall resident who regularly uses the Haslingden centre said: "I appreciate councils budgets are under pressure, but so are families.

"Council tax marches up year on year and we get fewer and fewer services for it. So they’re telling me now for the £160-odd pounds a month I pay in council tax I don’t even have the right to go to the tip when I want? It’s disgraceful."

Steve Scott, head of waste management, said: “The proposals being presented for consideration by Friday's Internal Scrutiny Committee aim to make a significant saving by improving efficiency in the way our Household Waste Recycling Centres operate.

“Lancashire’s HWRCs provide an extensive service in comparison with other councils, so there is scope to make savings by aligning opening days and hours more closely with the way people use them, ensuring they are open at the busiest times, but closing them when there is less demand.”