With over 1000 signatures now obtained on the petition, under the terms of the Council’s constitution a full debate on the future of the recycling centre is assured.

One user on Sunday was veteran Labour Councillor Brian Watson who wheeled his barrow into the centre from his nearby home.

In 2004 Coun Watson said the site could be expanded into council-owned land directly behind it.

He said:
“The site has been there for years and that’s where people go.

“If they move it somewhere else people aren’t going to go. We are going to go back to the old fly-tipping.

“This is an amenity for Acomb.”

He was commenting on the plan at the time to provide a new centre at Harewood Whin on the Wetherby Road which is about ½ mile from the existing site.

He is no doubt now wondering how long it will take him to push his wheel-barrow 4 miles to the Hazel Court facility which is now being promoted by his college Cllr Williams as an alternative.