THOUSANDS of residents have spoken out against council plans to close six tips.

Durham County Council’s consultation on closing six of its 15 household waste recycling centres closed on Friday.

A council spokeswoman said it had received 770 online comments, 55 paper comments and 100 emails or letters during the exercise.

But thousands of people are said to have signed petitions to save Broomsdene tip, near Leadgate, and Todhills, near Willington.

The centres listed for closure are: Broomsdene; Todhills; Cragwood, near Evenwood; Thornley, east Durham; Hett Hills, near Chester-le-Street; and Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle.

The following facilities would remain open: Potterhouse, near Pity Me, Durham; Seaham; Horden; Coxhoe; Tudhoe; Heighington Lane, Newton Aycliffe; Roman Way, West Auckland; Annfield Plain; and Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Mobile services would be introduced to cover Weardale, Barnard Castle, Crook and Willington.

Consultation began on Friday, October 28, and was due to close on Friday, December 9, but was extended until Friday, January 20.

The changes are aimed at saving between £1.4m and £1.8m a year. The Labour-led authority is facing nearly £150m in cuts over the next four years, following large reductions in its grant funding from central Government.

The council says it currently operates more recycling centres than most other authorities, but while in some parts of the county tips are within easy reach, in other areas access is limited.

Cragwood tip has been running without planning permission since 2002. Broomsdene is not fully compliant with its Waste Management Licence and its planning permission expires this year, while consent for Todhills is due to end in October.

Durham County Council’s cabinet is expected to take final decisions on closures on Wednesday, April 18.