PROPOSALS to cut opening hours at Okehampton Recycling Centre have this week sparked fears of increased fly-tipping, less recycling by the public and low staff morale.

Waste management services in Devon are under review, with proposals to save more than £1.2million next year being put forward for consultation.

The potential savings are part of a wider plan to reduce Devon County Council's budget by more than £100m over the next three years, to meet the latest Government spending targets.

In addition to renegotiating and re-tendering existing waste management contracts, a series of measures are being proposed for 2014/15.

These include a reduction in the opening hours at household waste recycling centres by one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening during the summer, and by one hour in the morning during the winter.

Weekend opening hours would remain unchanged.

The Okehampton centre sees around 200 cars pass through its gates on an average day with people dropping off waste to be recycled.

It is one of two in West Devon provided by the county council, and employs three people to run the site. It serves people not just from Okehampton, but surrounding villages and towns, with people travelling from as far as Crediton to use the facility.

Shane Simons, site supervisor at Okehampton Recycling Centre, has worked at the site for more than ten years.

He has concerns that the cutbacks will have adverse effects for both members of the public, centre staff and recycling rates in the county.

He said: 'All the time, members of the public are encouraged to recycle their waste, to reduce the use of landfill.

'Because of that, Devon now has one of the best rates of recycling in the country, and West Devon does too.

'I know that cutting back the hours like this will lower that rate.

'It is a fine line. If you start capping the hours of these centres, there will be repercussions.

'The early opening and later closing gives people who work during the week time to drop off recycling before or after work.

'Many of those people have commitments at the weekend, with their families. People will have less and less chance to recycle, so what do they do with their waste?

'You might see more fly-tipping, which there is far too much of already.

'By cutting back on hours, I am sure certain members of staff won't be able to stay on here and at other centres in the county.

'Losing 40 hours a month is like losing a week of your wages. People are already taking a battering financially in the South West, with lower wages and living costs getting more all the time.

'I have three children to support, and my wife is setting up a business of her own.

'To lose a week's wage means I will have a tough decision whether to stay in recycling and maybe look for a second job, or leave recycling and find something else to do.

'All the recycling centre employees have that decision to face. If it goes ahead, it will have effects on the public and on our staff.'

Cabinet member for community and environmental services, Roger Croad, said: 'Making decisions about possible reductions to services is never easy but we have looked very closely at how we can use our resources most effectively while also saving money.

'The recycling centres tend to be relatively quiet during the times proposed for reduced hours and the 17 sites would still operate 7 days a week.

'Over the last few years, changes within the way we manage our waste in Devon have meant we've made around £3.5 million worth of savings over the last two years.

'However, further work is still needed.

'I would encourage people to come forward with their opinions on this important issue and get involved with the consultation.'

No final decision on these proposals or how best to achieve any 2014/15 budget saving will be made until February.

In the meantime, comments on the proposals and how they might impact on people can be made at Okehampton Recycling Centre in person, online at http://www.devon.gov.uk/wastebudget">www.devon.gov.uk/wastebudget or in writing to Waste Management, Devon County Council, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QD.