A recycling centre used by Ascot residents could be closed down, leaving the nearest alternatives more than 10 miles away.

Bagshot Swift Lane Community Recycling Centre, which serves as the closest recycling point for those living in Ascot, Sunninghill and Sunningdale, could be shut down by Surrey Council Council.

The authority is recommending the closure claiming it cannot be made fit for the future due to being difficult to access, unmodernised and too small to be upgraded.

Those living in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead can currently use the site as their closest option for recycling.

The two closest alternative sites are White Hart Road in Slough, up to 11 miles away, and Stafferton Way in Maidenhead, up to 12 miles away. This has led to many people living in the Royal Borough to express their concerns, as well as the MP for Windsor, Jack Rankin.

In a letter to Surrey County Council, Mr Rankin warned that the closure ‘could see more instances of fly-tipping and illegal dumping in our area, causing damage to our countryside, the local environment and wildlife’.

The authority first considered closing the recycling centre in 2020.

The recycling centre handles around 1,700 tonnes of recycling a year, which amounts to just two per cent of the total across Surrey. It has also had repeated incidences of antisocial behaviour including vandalism and fly tipping.

The authority argues that those living in Surrey have plenty of other options for their recycling – but Mr Rankin has claimed that there has been ‘no reference’ to how those in the neighbouring county could be affected.

Mr Rankin suggested that if the Bagshot site does close, those from the neighbouring Royal Borough should be permitted to use the Lyne Community Recycling Centre in Thorpe Green which would be ‘significantly more accessible’.

This site is currently only available to be used by Surrey County Council residents, but if opened to neighbours ‘expanded opening hours to cater for additional capacity’ may be needed, the Windsor MP suggested.

One resident has suggested that those living in Ascot, Sunningdale and Sunninghill get access to use Longshot Lane Recycling Centre in Bracknell. This is only six miles from Sunninghill, but only available for use by people living in the Bracknell Forest borough.

A consultation is currently underway at Surrey County Council and residents from anywhere can take part. It closes on Friday, October 11.