SOUTHAMPTON'S recycling centre could close on Thursdays and have its hours cut to keep out 'trash tourists' from the rest of Hampshire.

Council chiefs fear outsiders will start piling into the City Depot unless it is closed at the same time as others in the county.

The centre in Millbrook would close every Thursday under new plans, opening two hours later at 11am.

That would bring it into line with 24 dumps which recently faced cuts from Hampshire County Council, including sites in Hythe, Hedge End and Netley.

Cllr Jacqui Rayment, Southampton City Council's environment chief, said: "What we don't want to do is encourage people that would use the Hampshire sites or the Portsmouth sites to bring their waste to Southampton, when we have to pick up the cost."

But Cllr Don Thomas, of Councillors Against the Cuts, has accused Labour leaders of dancing to the tune of the Conservative county council.

"This goes against everything a local authority should be doing," he said. "It is just another cut in services – how does this encourage recycling or‎ help to combat fly-tipping?

He added: "I can understand Tories making cuts – it's in their DNA – but I'm absolutely baffled when it comes from a Labour council following diktat from Hampshire County Council."

The changes are expected to save £51,000 a year in Southampton.

Cllr Rayment said cost-cutting was not the primary reason for the changes, adding that she had met county council officials during their decision making.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the county council sparked public outcry by consulting on the closure of up to 12 tips. It instead opted to cut hours, close its tips on Thursdays and introduce charges for businesses.

The Conservative group leader in Southampton, Jeremy Moulton, backs Thursday closures but warned against cutting weekend hours, when the site is busiest.

Cllr Moulton said: "I'd want to make sure Southampton residents aren't bearing the costs of Hampshire residents using our services.

"We pay taxes for Southampton people in Southampton.

"Having slightly lengthier hours at the weekends would be quid pro quo."

The plans could be given the green light at a meeting of the city council's cabinet on Tuesday.

If approved the changes would be introduced in January, alongside those in the rest of Hampshire.

The city will not be affected by the county council's £2 charge for 'cross border' dumping, which is set to be introduced in September 2017.