An MP has urged the council to scrap controversial plans to shut all of Norfolk's recycling centres once a week to save money. 

North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker wants Norfolk County Council to keep recycling centres open as Conservative leaders at County Hall have proposed shutting the 19 tips it runs on Wednesdays to save £200,000 a year.

The proposals come as part of £52m of cuts and savings in a bid to balance its books.

The council also wants to bring in timeslots people have to book to dispose of waste at tips to save a further £200,000 each year - but critics warn this will increase fly-tipping. 

READ MORE: Warning closing tips and making people book will mean fly-tipping surge

Now, North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker has urged the council to scrap the plans, which he says will "deliver very little real savings but cause very real inconveniences". 

North Norfolk News: North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker visited a recycling centre in Sheringham last weekNorth Norfolk MP Duncan Baker visited a recycling centre in Sheringham last week (Image: Duncan Baker)

"In recent weeks I have fielded a growing number of concerns from residents over the planned reduction in hours for our recycling centres," Mr Baker said in a letter sent to Andrew Jamieson, the council's deputy leader.

"The proposal to shut recycling centres on a Wednesday has not only raised worries with residents but equally with the hard-working staff at local recycling centres in north Norfolk.

"Recycling and access to services that taxpayers fund are of paramount importance to local people.

"Reducing them is clearly a retrograde step and although we all recognise the pressure on budgets, cutting out waste services and impacting residents who rely on a convenient and consistent service is only likely to be counterproductive if we see an increase fly tipping."

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The letter continued: "I urge you to scrap the idea of closing recycling services on a Wednesday, which in all likelihood will deliver very little real savings but cause very real inconveniences to our communities."

Limiting when people visit tips will mean the council can spend less on staffing - but critics say it will also lead to less recycling and more fly-tipping.