A RUBBISH tip in Hartley Wintney will stay open after more than 3,400 residents campaigned against its closure.

The Household Waste Recycling Centre, in addition to 11 others around the county, was earmarked to close as part of a decision to save Hampshire County Council £1.6m per year.

However, the proposals sparked objections from residents who raised concerns that shutting the centre could result in 'more fly-tipping, littering, pollution and environmental harm'.

READ MORE: No plans for bus service shake-up, Hampshire County Council confirm

Speaking to the Gazette earlier this year, David Woodhead said: "I feel that the site in Hartley Wintney is a well-used site and valuable resource at a time when we are all being encouraged to recycle more. It will also force people to have to travel further."

Mr Woodhead started a petition to urge the council to rethink the proposals, which amassed signatures from more than 3,400 residents.

Now, at a cabinet meeting held by Hampshire County Council on Monday, October 14, councillors have voted to keep the sites open.

The Hartley Wintney tip was amongst a group of sites which the council say are the smallest sites, the poorest performing and most expensive to run.

Cllr Lulu Bowerman, for Emsworth and St Faiths, proposed a motion to include the sites in a 'county-wide review of waste and recycling' rather than shutting the tips.

SEE ALSO: 'Where the need?' Longstanding barbers struggling amid influx of new shops

Andover North councillor, Kirsty North, seconded the motion, calling plans to shut the tips 'short-sighted'.

She added: "It's been really clear under this proposal the strength of feeling from the public in all 12 areas that the Tier 3/4 sites sit within."

The motion was carried, with the leader of the council, Cllr Nick Adams-King calling it 'entirely right' that the sites stay open.

He added: "I'm completely in support of us keeping all the HWRCs (Household Waste Recycling Centres) open."

However, the Cllr added that he does not agree that the closures of the sights would 'increase fly-tipping' calling it 'potentially offensive' to suggest that residents would fly-tip 'if they couldn't access' the tip.