Residents have raised concerns over job losses and a rise in fly-tipping after it was revealed their tip is among those at risk of closing.

Earlier this year, Kent County Council (KCC) confirmed it was looking at plans to axe as many as four household waste recycling centres (HWRC), at Maidstone (Tovil), Faversham, Dartford and Richborough, in a bid to save more than £1 million a year.

Those in the Dover district had already hit back over the risk of closure at Richborough, with members of three town councils voicing their opposition.

But now, KCC has released different options for the closures - with Deal and Swanley in the firing line.

And townsfolk have said a loud and clear no to the plan to close the Deal site, in Southwall Road, with many fearing the move would lead to a rise in fly-tipping.

Speaking to KentOnline, Justin Oakes, of Sholden, said: “I think it’s quite a poor idea.

“The only thing that Deal is doing is growing.

“The infrastructure is poor in Deal anyway, schooling is poor and it's difficult to get a doctor’s appointment or a dentist’s.

“A recycling centre is very important to this town as it’s certainly getting bigger.

“The fact they want to shut it, I really don't understand.”

Mr Oakes was not reassured that only one of the three HWRCs in the Dover districts would close at worst – either Richborough or Deal will shut, not both.

The Dover tip is currently not at risk of closing.

Mr Oakes continued: “Coming in and out of Deal is a major pain anyway.

“There are lots of traffic lights because of a lot of building going up. Roads are very busy.

“It’s really handy to just jump in your car and five minutes later drop off what you need to.”

Richard Parsons, who lives in the town’s Middle Deal Road near the centre, said “This would have a knock-on effect on the town.

“Why are we paying our council tax if they are doing away with the local tip in Deal? I think it’s really a bad idea and people might lose their jobs. “

Wayne Jordan, of Deal, is also against the move, fearing it will “just promote more fly-tipping around the area”.

He said: “It will make more of a problem. People will not travel to Richborough from Deal just to get rid of household waste.

“You’ve got to keep these places open otherwise you’d be going around the country lanes cleaning the mess from people throwing their stuff away.”

Sharon Howland, of Walmer, was concerned over environmental pressures, adding: “They keep going on about the carbon footprint and now expect people to drive to the centre in Dover.”

Alan Bennett, of Walmer, called the proposals “ridiculous”.

“The Southwall Road centre is always used; it’s packed,” he said.

Local MPs are also opposing the cuts.

Dover and Deal’s Natalie Elphicke said: “I have long opposed the reduction of local waste services in Dover and Deal. I’ve had countless complaints from residents who find the booking system unhelpful and difficult to navigate.

“It comes as no surprise that we have seen a surge in fly-tipping. Closing much needed and well used waste and recycling facilities would make the problem immeasurably worse.

“They need to think again.”

South Thanet MP Craig Mackinley, who covers Sandwich area, said he understood KCC was under financial pressures but said it was now reaching for “ill-conceived, low-value savings.”

Trevor Bond, county councillor for the Deal and Walmer division and a Deal town councillor, said closure of HWRCs would lead to more traffic pollution by people having to drive further to remaining sites.

He said: “I was shocked to see Deal added to the chopping block.

“It’s a completely wrong-headed decision. It’s wrong for environmental objectives and local residents.”

Dan Friend, district member for the Sandwich ward, said: “Together we are resolute in our efforts to oppose closure at Richborough and Deal.

“Effective solutions need to meet the waste management needs of our communities.

“These proposals don’t do that.”

Dover, Deal and Sandwich Town Councils have all collectively opposed the cuts as have both the ruling Labour and Conservative opposition groups at Dover District Council.

When the cuts were first announced in May all three options for Kent’s 19 HWRCs involved closing the Richborough site.

The latest plans from KCC earmark four tips for closure in total, with Maidstone and Faversham included in all the options.

Two options involve the closure of Deal, and the other two Richborough.

KCC had originally hoped to save £1.5 million but may have to find around another £1 million per year.

This is after Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced in June she was scrapping local authorities' ability to charge for non-domestic waste.

Susan Carey, KCC cabinet member for environment, said that with the authority having to make £58m in savings to balance the books, there was little choice.

She told KCC members at County Hall last Wednesday: “It’s a saving I would prefer not to make. I would not be looking to close household recycling centres if it were not for budgetary pressures.”

The county council says there is evidence of falling use of HWRCs. In 2017/18, more than 175,000 tonnes of material were managed through the sites, which reduced to 94,250 tonnes in 2022/23.

That period coincided with the Covid pandemic and the introduction of a pre-booking system in 2020, which the public voted to keep in a consultation the following year.

A 10-week consultation period on the present HWRC closure plans will start at the end of this month.