Opening hours at Cheltenham's tip have been cut from today (Feb 1) to ease "council budget pressures".

The Swindon Road household recycling centre will now open later and shut earlier and close on Wednesdays.

Cheltenham Borough Council said use of the tip has decreased since the end of the pandemic and the cuts will save £35,000 per year in operating costs, reducing energy consumption and easing council budget pressures.

The recycling centre is the only one in the county entirely funded by the borough council and is solely for Cheltenham residents with proof of address required on entry.

It was previously open 7.30am to 7.30pm during the week in the summer and until 6.30pm in the winter. It opened 7.30am to 4pm on Saturdays and 9am to noon on Sundays.

It will now open at 8.30am and shut at 4pm on weekdays, except Wednesdays when it will close. It will open 8.30am to 3pm on Saturdays and 9am to noon Sundays.

Cllr Iain Dobie, Cheltenham Borough Council cabinet member for waste, recycling and street services, said: "We recognise the value of our household recycling centre and we're proud that we're the only local authority in the county to offer this service to our residents.

"However, due to a reduction in use of the facility during weekdays, combined with the increasing budget pressures, we have agreed this as a solution to continue providing this discretionary service by adjusting the daily opening hours, and closing on a Wednesday as this is a quieter day."

"We would like to assure residents that we remain invested in this high quality facility and we're looking to offer an even wider range of re-use and recycling opportunities in coming months, to help support our ambition to reduce the amount of residual waste."

The new opening hours are:

Monday - 8.30am - 4pm

Tuesday - 8.30am - 4pm

Wednesday - CLOSED in line with Gloucestershire County Council sites

Thursday - 8.30am - 4pm

Friday - 8.30am - 4pm

Saturday - 8.30am - 3pm

Sunday - 9am to 12noon