A NUMBER of household recycling centres in Dorset face uncertain fut-ures, under cost-cutting plans revealed by Dorset Waste Partnership.

And Bridport’s, as yet unopened £8m waste transfer centre is among them.

Bridport councillors were outraged that the flagship waste transfer station could be at risk.

Dorset Waste Partner-ship (DWP), the umbrella organisation formed in 2011 to take care of the county’s waste, recycling and street cleaning services, has announced a public consultation which includes a number of options – including shutting down sites, opening them part-time or charging entry fees to residents.

DWP bosses say up to £100,000 could be recouped for each site shut down, while potential savings of £65,000 per year could be clawed back per centre by charging entry fees, and £300,000 if centres only open a few days a week.

Councillors were dis-cussing the consultation at a finance and general purposes committee.

Leader Sarah Williams said it would be ‘crazy’ to close Bridport’s new centre before it was even been built.

She said: “One of the ones they are looking at is Bridport and it hasn’t even been built. It is absolutely crazy to close it.”

Cllr Tett said it was ‘absolutely nonsense’.

He said: “I have never heard as much madness in all my born days.

“It’s absolutely rid-iculous. I could not believe it. We haven’t even opened it yet.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “The new Bridport waste management centre at Broomhills remains on track to open this summer, to coincide with the start of the new Recycle for Dorset collection service.

“The current consul-tation relates to all 11 sites in Dorset. We cannot rule any HRCs in or out of the options at this stage. No decision will be made before the results of the consultation have been considered in June 2015.”

DWP chairman Cllr Anthony Alford said: “The DWP needs to recognise the major reductions in funding for our partner councils and do what we can to help them meet their target savings.”