Ellar Ghyll tip looks set to be saved from complete closure - with plans to only open it at weekends.

But the Leeds City Council proposal is being criticised by Otley ward councillors who claim it is "closure by stealth".

Local people had been asked to give their views on the closure of the household waste recycling centre and other cost saving measures as the council looked for ways to address a £119 million gap in its budget for the coming financial year. The closure was seen as a way of saving £110,000 per year.

Last week the council said it had listened to resident’s views in the consultation and, among other changes, was revising proposals for Ellar Ghyll.

But Otley's Liberal Democrat ward councillors Colin Campbell, Sandy Lay and Ryk Downes say the new proposal will still lead to problems such as fly tipping and could pave the way for complete closure. They are also concerned about the future of Yeadon's Milner Road waste site.

Cllr Lay said:"Leeds admit that their latest suggestion to close the site during the week and only open at weekends is uncosted. They also admit that the proposed limited opening hours cannot deal with the current demand at the site so all the issues related to fly tipping and increased carbon footprint for residents trying to recycle will remain.

"We are also concerned that this is simply closure by stealth and in a few months time Leeds will say the site is under used and bring forward revised closure proposals."

Cllr Campbell added:"The public consultation has produced significant comment, so we feel that Leeds second proposal, to look for a new site to replace the Ellar Ghyll and Milner Road facilities is a response to that. They are however unable to say where that site might be or even if any work has been done to identify one. Given that Leeds have sold sites which might have been suitable we feel this is a disingenuous suggestion."

Cllr Downes said: "We are also concerned that this new site proposal is the first stage in a plan to close Milner Road as well as Ellar Ghyll, something which would leave a significant number of residents without access to a recycling facility."

Lucy Nuttgens, Labour candidate for Otley and Yeadon, said hundreds of people had signed the 38 degrees petition that she had set up to save Ellar Ghyll.

She said: "This level of support helped influence Leeds City Council’s decision (due to be ratified in the 2021-2022 budget on 24th February) to keep the recycling centre open, albeit on reduced hours, until further funding becomes available. The city council is facing these difficult budget decisions because over the last ten years of government austerity, a total of £2 billion in government grants has been taken away from our council services."