Plans to reduce the opening hours of the Potters Bar recycling centre are one step closer to being accepted.

Members of the Hertfordshire County Council’s highways and waste management panel met today to approve plans to reduce the opening hours of the county’s 17 recycling centres.

The cabinet meeting, held at County Hall in Hertford, outlined the results of the public consultation held between June 16 and August 3 regarding suggesting changes to the recycling services in the county.

Panel members voted unanimously to accept Councillor Terry Douris’ proposals, which mean that the Potters Bar site will continue to open from 8am to 4pm during winter months.

However, the site will close completely on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the year, and will also have later opening times during the summer months, opening from 10am to 6pm.

Plans to close the nearby centre in Elstree have been halted amid fears that alternative centres could not cope with the increased number of users.

The plans will now be put before the cabinet on Monday afternoon to ultimately accept or reject the motion.