OPENING hours are to be cut at recycling centres in North Yorkshire in money-saving measures being brought in by the county council.

Centres in Harrogate, Malton and Norton, Leyburn, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, Selby and Tadcaster will be among those hit by the changes from April 1 this year.

Long summer opening hours will end, and all 20 household waste recycling centres run by North Yorkshire County Council will close at 5pm instead of 7pm from April to September.

County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, executive member for waste management, said: “We know the household waste recycling centres across North Yorkshire provide a highly valued service. We would prefer not to have to make changes to the service, but because of reducing Government funding we need to save money and are doing all we can to keep the impact on residents to a minimum.

“HWRCs are used by relatively few people after 5pm, so closing earlier in the summer will affect as few users as possible. HWRCs across North Yorkshire already close on Wednesday, but all will remain open six days each week, including Saturday and Sunday. Altogether these changes will make an important contribution to helping balance our budget.”

Winter opening times are also to change and from October the centres will close at 4pm instead of 5pm.

Other changes will see people charged to get rid of tyres at the recycling centres, which already charge for things such as hardcore, rubble and plasterboard.

Cllr Metcalfe added: "Tyres are not considered household waste, so accepting them at household waste recycling centres is an additional service. Introducing a charge brings our centres into line with most garages and tyre companies, which already charge for disposal of tyres."

The new charges will also come in from April 1.