County Coun Albert Atkinson, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, will make a final decision on closing the site on Everest Road along with five others across the county.

It follows a meeting of the County Hall scrutiny committee in which councillors from a special task group signed off a decision to shut the popular site, the subject of a 1,500 strong petition by local residents, to save money.

The closures come despite Lancashire's waste recycling service being recognised as one of the best in the country.

And during the meeting, Coun Liz Oades, one of two Fylde-based councillors on the panel, said: "I'm dismayed at hearing we are recognised as having a gold standard recycling service and now we are looking at reducing standards."

But County Coun Michael Devaney, who led the task group looking into the closures, said the money saved was vital.

He said: "It's important we recognise the council can save annually about £1m a year.

"That's not just this year, that is ongoing.

"That's going to make a substantial contribution to the way this county is financed."

The task group report says that £300,000 a year could be saved
by closing the site.

They also believe the council could make £250,000 by selling the site.

County Coun Bill Winlow, who recently stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate to represent Fylde at the general election, said he was "very disappointed."

He added: "Naturally I find it very disappointing in that it seems these sites are going to close.

"I'm particularly concerned about the site in my area (the site in St Annes) but I know many others are disappointed too."

The recommendation for the committee now goes to the portfolio holder for the issue, County Coun Atkinson.

He can decide to follow their recommendations or alter them as he sees fit.

He was unavailable for comment.