“SAVE our tip.”

That’s the message from Romsey community leaders who fear that the waste recycling centre in Timsbury “is in jeopardy of closure”.

Casbrook Common is one of 24 household waste and recycling centres (HWRC) across Hampshire which could face closure as part of a county-wide consultation.

Civic chiefs at Romsey Town Hall have written a letter to recycling bosses at Hampshire County Council begging them not to close the site at Bunny Lane.

Hampshire County Council is currently asking for residents’ views on recycling in the county ahead of the large scale shake up of waste and recycling services which it is hoped could save £1.5 million.

It is part of a wider plan to save £98 million by April 2017.

Romsey councillors fear closing Bunny Lane would lead to more incidents of fly-tipping across the area and draw people away from the town.

It comes after Test Valley saw a spate of fly-tipping incidents across the borough, with asbestos and unknown chemicals dumped in the countryside.

Richard Jordan-Baker, director of estates at Broadlands Estate, said that they have tipping on an “almost weekly basis” and called for the centre to remain open.

He said: “Closure of the tip will only add to our, and other landowner's problems.

“In our view it should be made easier for people to dispose of rubbish and waste, not more difficult.”

But environment bosses said that no decision has been made.

A questionnaire has been produced by Hampshire County Council asking residents what changes they would prefer the council to make.

It includes cutting opening hours, previously reduced in April 2015, across all sites by either one hour a day or by up to two days a week - saving around £800,000 a year.

No specific sites are mentioned for closure as part of the questionnaire and it is unclear what centres would be at threat following the consultation.

However the county council have stated in their consultation that sites will be considered for closure according to a “number of factors including site usage, recycling performance, geographical considerations and operating costs”.

Currently, the Bunny Lane site is one of only two in Test Valley with the other at Andover.

The nearest one is at Eastleigh, 20 miles away.

But Hampshire County and Test Valley Borough Councillor Mark Cooper fears that Bunny Lane is “on the shortlist” for closure.

“Because it is a small site, Romsey's Casbrook Common in Bunny Lane is in real danger of closure,” he said.

“The costs per tonne of handling the waste are relatively high.”

In the letter to Hampshire County Council, the Mayor of Romsey, Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, said: “We are extremely concerned that our recycling centre on Bunny Lane, Timsbury, is in jeopardy of closure."

She added: "we implore you to retain it or op for a minimal closure option”.

Cllr Baverstock said visitors would turn away from Romsey if fly-tipping increased “by our own less scrupulous residents dumping if they cannot use this facility”.

She added: “Litter/fly-tipping is a definite turn-off to visitors who we are working hard to encourage to visit our wonderful market town and immediate area.”

Councillor Seán Woodward launched the consultation when he was the council’s executive member for economy, transport and environment.

He said: "This consultation is a genuine opportunity for people to tell us how they think a different and more affordable model can be established.

“We are asking people what they think of changes in opening hours - an hour less each day, weekend only opening , winter closures - and what they think of closing some sites altogether.

“We will be looking at how many people use each of the sites, how much waste is collected, and the distances between sites.”

Cllrs Cooper and Baverstock echoed Cllr Woodward and urged people to get involved in the consultation which ends on Wednesday, May 25

The questionnaire is available at www3.hants.gov.uk/hwrc2016 or call 0300 555 1389.