The region's Liberal Democrats are taking a united stand against further closures of Household Waste and Recycling sites across Cheshire East.

As news broke of a forthcoming public consultation on the potential closure of more waste sites across the borough concerned Liberal Democrat councillors and activists are urging residents to oppose the cut in what they see as a vital service.

They are also highlighting what they consider to be double-standards and inconsistencies in the attitude of other political parties and groups on Cheshire East Council and at town and parish council level.

Alsager Nub News told here how Cheshire East was planning to press ahead with a public consultation next year on proposals which could see the closure of up to three of the borough's seven tips.

Newly elected Liberal Democrat Cheshire East Councillor for Alsager, Reg Kain said, "I know that my colleague Councillor Fletcher has campaigned long and hard to retain household waste and recycling sites across the borough.

"Councillor Robert Douglas was also particularly active in opposing the closure of the sites at Arclid and Congleton.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only group on Cheshire East to consistently oppose the closure of these essential community facilities.

"We urge residents to make their voice heard and defend waste sites from further closures. People are already making lengthy round-trips to dispose of household and garden waste.

"At the same time as introducing a garden waste collection charge, Cheshire East is encouraging people to take such waste to their nearest recycling site - which, if proposed cuts are made, are likely to become further and further away."

Councillor Robert Douglas who represents Congleton West on Congleton Town Council said: "I pointed out at the recent Cheshire East Environment and Communities Committee meeting that their estimates for a replacement waste site in Congleton were highly inflated.

"Their current estimate has risen from £4 to £6 million to £8 million when we have previously provided evidence of new sites in Norwich and Uttoxeter which cost around £2 million each."

"The Liberal Democrats were at the forefront of opposition to the closure of the Congleton site.

"The Conservatives belatedly got behind the campaign and in supporting the establishment of a new one, have failed to tell people that it would be at the expense of the site in Alsager.

"The Conservatives currently appear to be pressing for the closure of the Bollington site whilst retaining the site at Poynton.

"Previously, the Conservatives closed the site at Arclid without revealing that the lease was shortly to run out at the Congleton site.

"They are trying to claim the moral high ground on this issue when really they should be hanging their heads in shame."

Trevor Priestman, a Liberal Democrat parish councillor in Sutton added, "The Conservatives are trying to smear the Liberal Democrats for largely voting in favour of the Cheshire East budget during the previous Council term."

Cllr Priestman has so far collected over 1600 signatures for a petition opposing proposed closures. The petition can be found here