Wolverhampton city centre tips to close as 'super dump' created

The cash-strapped authority also wants to bring in bin collection fees for the first time in its history, charging residents £35 a year for green garden waste bins.

Standard bin collections could move from weekly to fortnightly under the plans, which are set to be officially unveiled as part of the 2017/18 budget proposals next week.

It comes as the council continues to battle budget cuts that have seen £154 million wiped of its finances in the last six years, with more than £50m of additional cuts needed by 2020.

The Express & Star has been told that council bosses are considering scrapping the city's refuse dumps at Shaw Road, Bushbury and Anchor Lane, Bilston as they are no longer fit for purpose.

It is thought that a 'super dump' in a more central location would better serve the city, with bosses said to be looking at an industrial area in East Park as a possible location.

The city's former mayor, Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, said the proposals were both being considered for consultation with the public in the coming weeks.

"The two tips in the city no longer provide a suitable service," he said.

"People in the city regularly say to me that waiting times are too long and opening hours are too short. I am fully behind any move to replace them with a 'super dump', providing it is managed properly."

The city's tips have been plagued by lengthy queues in recent years, a problem exacerbated by the council slashing opening hours in a bid to save cash.

The proposals to charge for green bin collections are said to have prompted a split within the Labour group, with some senior councillors warning that imposing fees for the service could lead to an increase in fly-tipping across the city.

There is also concern that another proposal to encourage composting across the city could lead to an increase in rats and mice.

"Some of the plans don't really to appear to have been well thought through," one councillor told the Express & Star. City environment boss Councillor Steve Evans, said the authority would be releasing full details of its consultations for 2016/17 next week.