TWO Labour councillors have said they share residents' "immense disappointment" after it was announced Queensbury's tip would close.

Earlier this week, Bradford Council voted through a "devastating" budget which will see £40million cuts to local services.

The savings include the closure of Queensbury's Ford Hill household waste recycling centre.

A petition - which was signed by 7,000 people - had urged the Labour-led authority to keep the tip.

In a joint statement, Queensbury Labour councillors Alex Mitchell and Hazel Johnson said they voted for the budget "with regret" and accused the Conservative Government of "decimating" authorities like Bradford Council, "forcing more and more cuts on us after over a decade of chronic underfunding".

They added: "Neither of us want to see Queensbury tip close.

"We share residents' immense disappointment and understand the impact on those who fought hard for this cherished local facility.

"Despite our lobbying efforts and a fantastic locally-organised petition signed by 7,000 residents to save Ford Hill, the unfortunate reality is that it is the second least used, the smallest and the most expensive to run.

"Viable alternatives could not be secured. 

"Cllr Johnson and I will continue to work with the council for the residents of Queensbury."

During the Council's annual budget meeting, Cllr Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservative group on Bradford Council, said the authority had "failed" under Labour's control. 

Cllr Poulsen criticised the budget for failing to have any extra funding to deal with fly-tipping which would arise from residents dumping their waste after the tip closure. 

She added: "The idea that fly-tipping won't increase is absolutely rubbish."

After the Council announced it was considering closing Queensbury tip, the Telegraph & Argus spoke to Judy Wetherell, who set up an online petition to try and save the facility amid fears about a rise in fly-tipping without it.

She said: "Closing the tip and leaving the residents of Queensbury, Denholme, Thornton, Clayton Heights and other surrounding areas with large distances to travel to other sites will be unaffordable in many instances. 
 
"The next nearest tip is seven miles away.

"We will see an increase in fly-tipping, not only on the country lanes around Queensbury and Thornton, but on farmland, endangering livestock and wildlife.
 
"Locally and nationally, fly-tipping is a growing problem for many Councils.
 
"Bradford Council needs to look at alternative cost-cutting measures - not take away even more services from Queensbury."