HOUSEHOLD waste recycling sites across Hampshire are under threat from new costing-cutting plans that aim to save at least £1.2 million a year.

Some of the 24 sites are likely to see a cut in opening hours while others could close completely under proposals being drawn up by the county council.

The cash-strapped authority is also exploring the idea of charging people every time they use the facilities.

It comes a year after council chiefs scrapped an earlier proposal to axe one or more of the sites after two thirds of people surveyed by the authority said they were against any closures.

Campaigners are warning that the latest plans could spark a huge increase in fly-tipping in the New Forest and other parts of Hampshire.

The future of each site will be decided after the outcome of an eight-week public consultation exercise due to be launched next month.

Household waste recycling centres are already used by four million people a year and the number of homes in Hampshire is likely to grow by 76,000 over the next eight years.

But the county council says the ever-increasing need to save money means “incredibly difficult” decisions will have to be made.

Options under discussion include closing at least five sites, shutting some of the smaller ones in the winter and opening others only at weekends.

The county council is also looking at the possibility of charging users a “nominal” £1 per visit.

The draft proposals were outlined at a meeting of New Forest District Council by two members of the county council’s waste management team, Vicky Beechy and Daniel Hunt.

Members warned that any cuts could result in people driving into the Forest at night and dumping all of their rubbish under cover of darkness.

Cllr John Olliff-Cooper said: “Whatever you do there’s going to be a tremendous political fall-out.”

Ms Beechy admitted that rubbish dumping could increase if the authority made any “major” changes to the network.

She added: “The question of fly-tipping is of considerable concern and we’d be looking to work with the districts to try to discourage it. It’s something we’re looking at very closely.”

County councillor David Harrison has already launched a petition in a bid to prevent any loss of service at the recycling site in Marchwood.

Cllr Harrison said its close proximity to a similar facility in Millbrook, run by Southampton City Council, could put it at risk.

He warned that any decision to close the Marchwood site would lead to an increase in fly-tipping, which would be a “disaster” for the New Forest.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Hampshire and Isle of Wight councils have already spent more than £1.4 million dealing with dumped waste in the past three years. Southampton City Council was swamped with 19,512 reports, one for every 45 residents.

No-one from Friends of the Earth was available for comment on the county council’s proposals.