CAMPAIGNS to save three threatened waste recycling centres are gathering pace.

The centres in Great Harwood, Bacup and Colne are three of four earmarked for closure by Lancashire County Council as part of a major cost-cutting exercise.

But residents are fighting back in a bid to prove that the sites are vital to their communities.

In Great Harwood, campaigners have collected hundreds of signatures against the council recommendation.

Meanwhile hundreds of letters and emails have been sent to residents to gather support for their fight.

The three sites were earmarked for closure after an 18-month review into the provision of the centres by Lancashire County Council.

A new household waste recycling centre in Heasandford, Burnley, has been opened which the council said people in Colne can use.

Noordad Aziz, 27, of Greaves Street, Great Harwood, said: “We know that the site has been named as one that will close but there is a big campaign to keep it open.

“In the community we have got petitions in all of the shops.

"Later in the month we are going to organise a ‘recycling day’ to show just how valuable it is to us.

"We can show just how important this facility is for us.”

Pendle councillor Ann Kerrigan has slammed the county hall plans and is putting together a petition to try to save the centre.

She said: “I would like all residents of the Colne area to ensure that they respond to this consultation.

“It is incredibly important that we keep the site in Colne.

"The impact on Pendle Council’s wagons alone will be immense.

“Just imagine the implications of increased mileage to use the recycling site at Burnley.

“Petrol and diesel are at premium rates and the extra cost will have to be met by local taxpayers.

“If the council tax doesn’t increase, then there will surely have to be a cut elsewhere to pay for this.

“This is on top of the costs that will be incurred by our residents having to travel into another borough to get rid of our waste.”

The other threatened waste recycling centre is in Garstang.