It will give Mayor of Tring Nick Hollinghurst - who has previously described the proposal for closure as 'environmental vandalism' - the chance to put forward the town's case.

The household waste recycling centre in Tringford Road has been recommended for closure by environment chiefs at Herts County Council.

They argue that people in Tring can use an alternative site in Berkhamsted and that the Tring base is not suitable for expansion to provide additional recycling.

However, the move has been met with outcry from residents, who say the journey to Berkhamsted is an 11-mile round trip and that the site will be unable to cope with the extra demand.

During a visit to the Tring dump last Saturday morning Mark Tutty of Grove Road, Tring, told The Gazette: "I'm not very happy. The council has got to provide somewhere for people to put their waste. It is not very good. Berkhamsted is just too far. These kind of facilities have to be provided on a local basis."

Dave Marie of Bunstrux, Tring said: "I come here twice a week, sometimes three times. However, it is really a big help to us and we definitely need it."

David Rush from Cheddington said: "I think it is ridiculous. This centre has the best recycling rates in Herts so what are they doing?"

A meeting of the county council's environment scrutiny committee, which has been called by Liberal Democrat councillors, will be held on Friday, May 16 from 10am at County Hall in Hertford when the closure will be put under the microscope.

Plans to close a similar recycling centre in Watford will also be scrutinised.

Councillor Hollinghurst hopes the meeting will lead to the plans being completely reconsidered.

He said: "I will be there putting a case forward for Tring."

MP for south west Herts David Gauke, has also joined the campaign. He said: "I have written to the county council on this and raised various questions.

"I'm really questioning why the county council is doing this.
"There is considerable disquiet in Tring about this issue. I hope the county council will look at this, see the strength of feeling in the town and reconsider."

The scrutiny meeting will be open to the public when effects of the closures will be consider. It is not yet known whether members of the public will be given an opportunity to speak.

Recommendations from the meeting will be considered during a meeting of the waste management panel on July 9 before a final decision by the cabinet on July 21.

Letters objecting to the proposed Tring closure can be sent to Ray Greenall, Head of Waste Management, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8DN.


FACT BOX.
In 2006/7 the total waste collected at Berkhamsted's recycling centre was 3,177 tonnes, of this 1,669 tonnes was recycled and 1,508 tonnes was residual waste.

In Tring during the same period the total waste collected was 3,985 tonnes with 2,360 tonnes being recycled and 1,625 residual waste.

It is estimated that between April 2006 and March 2007 there were 130,519 visits to the Berkhamsted site and 140,684 to Tring.


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