THE huge number of proposed cuts to services operated by cash-strapped Thurrock Council is set see changes at Linford household recycling centre.

They include abolition of the permit system that allows people to use larger vehicles to dump waste 12 times a year and an online booking system that means people will not be able just to turn up and tip.

Residents may also be charged to dump their own 'DIY' waste at the tip.

However, initial plans to close the tip for two days a week have now been withdrawn. Environment portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Jefferies did highlight that change at a cabinet meeting which followed a full council meeting when he and his colleagues supported a range of changes.

Nub News apologises for missing, and therefore, not reporting Cllr Jefferies' assurance, though the council's communications team had been asked to detail the changes and did not mention the closure reversal decision.

Thurrock Nub News understands that further cuts to environmental services includes the termination of agency staff, many of whom are employed to support the council's showcase 'Cleaner Greener' policy.

Though the council told Thurrock Nub News this week that nothing has yet been decided , the drastic measures at Linford list – along with many other potential service cuts – were outlined in the small print of documents submitted at last month's full council meeting.

The measures were recommended for approval and in a vote the following Conservative councillors voted to support the cuts: Councillors Qaisar Abbas, Alex Anderson, Deborah Arnold, Paul Arnold, Adam Carter, Gary Collins, George Coxshall, Mark Coxshall, Jack Duffin, James Halden, Shane Hebb, Andrew Jefferies, Barry Johnson, Tom Kelly, Susan Little, Ben Maney, Allen Mayes, Augustine Ononaji, Maureen Pearce, Shane Ralph, Joycelyn Redsell, Graham Snell, Luke Spillman and James Thandi.

The measures were opposed by independent and Labour councillors John Allen, Chris Baker, Gary Byrne, Daniel Chukwu, Victoria Holloway, Cathy Kent, John Kent, Martin Kerin, Steve Liddiard, Fraser Massey, Sara Muldowney, Srikanth Panjala, Jane Pothecary, Sue Shinnick, Jennifer Smith and Lynn Worrall. The recommendations were approved by a majority of eight and are likely to be pushed through if Conservatives retain control of the council when the measures come up for approval before cabinet.

When the tip has been closed some people just simply tip and run. In this instance it ws outside the gates - but local roads are frequently blighted by tipping.

The changes at the tip have been described as a charter for fly-tipping by East Tilbury ward councillor Fraser Massey.

Cllr Massey was on hand – and helped track down the source of fly-tipping material left outside Condovers Scout camp on his patch in the week.

And he is alarmed at the amount of rubbish continually dumped on rural roads.

"It's difficult to see how these cuts are going to help stop more of this sort of thing happening. You could describe this as a charter for fly-tipping.

"This just shows the depth of the problems we are going to face in the borough as the Conservatives try to ram through cutbacks in services to claw back the cash they have lost through their disastrous failed investment policy."

The Conservatives' environment portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Jefferies has not responded to requests for a comment, though the council's media team said: "In order to ensure the service provided at the HWRC complies with the requirements of the site licence, and as part of budget setting for the upcoming year, some changes are planned for the management of access for different vehicle types.

"No changes will be implemented until the summer and residents will be informed of changes once plans have been finalised and prior to their introduction."

Yesterday (Friday, 31 March) Nub News was contacted by members of the council's environmental staff who are not on full time employment but are engaged on an agency basis have been told that their services will not be required further as and when current agreements run out.

That ties in with projected plans to cut down on general cleaning and services like drains clearing.

The council has been asked to comment on the proposed staffing cuts but has not, as yet, responded.