A RECYCLING centre in Warminster could be forced to close temporarily if fears over contamination are confirmed.
Wiltshire County Council said tests would be carried out at Warminster's Household Recycling Centre in Furnax Lane in June amid concerns over the levels of hydrocarbons (tar) in the soil.
If a decision is taken to close the site temporarily, the nearest facility would be more than seven miles away in Manor Road, Frome, or nine miles away at Canal Road Industrial Estate, Trowbridge.
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Local resident Robin Ludlow, of North Row, uses the Warminster centre frequently.
He said: "It would be a disaster because so many people use it. Even if it is temporary, where are we going to go with our rubbish."
"It is going to encourage people to fly-tip. I would suggest they find another site for us to use and get on with it. I'll have to drive all the way to Trowbridge but we are supposed to be reducing how much we drive.
"It defeats the whole purpose of trying to save fuel and not burn up the atmosphere."
His neighbour Ben Beveridge, 73, added: "The thought of closing it down for a while, especially at that time of year with peoples' waste from their gardens, would be disastrous.
"I hope they can sort it out without closing it."
Wiltshire County Council has assured users there would be minimum interruption while tests are carried out and confirmed any temporary closure would depend on the results.
A spokesman said: "There is an issue about the possible contamination of the site. It used to be a gas works. Depending what the tests come back with we may have to take remedial action. There may be a temporary closure of the site but it is still in the very early stages of the process.
"One point I would like to stress is that once we have a clear idea of what needs to happen next we will keep people who use the Warminster Household Recycling Centre informed.
"There is certainly no intention to permanently close the site, sell it off for development or anything like that."
Warminster's HRC has recycling facilities for paper, cardboard, glass bottles, jars, cans, garden waste, rubber, white goods, car batteries and textiles.
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