PAISLEY MP Gavin Newlands has challenged the leader of Renfrewshire Council to consult widely with the public on any review that is carried out on the reduced services now offered at the waste and recycling centres.

During a Facebook Live interview with Paisley.org, Councillor Mark MacMillan stated that the local authority will review their recent decision to slash services at the waste and recycling sites in Renfrew, Linwood, Johnstone and Erskine.

During the interview Councillor MacMillan was keen to find out what the impact has been on communities following his decision to downgrade the service.

Gavin Newlands MP has therefore written to Councillor MacMillan to demand that he consults widely with the local community.

And in doing so, Mr Newlands has submitted a number of pictures which he claims highlight the rise of fly-tipping following the Council's cuts to the amenity and refuge centres.

Mr Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: "In pledging to review the decision, it appears that Councillor MacMillan has finally acknowledged the impact on households and communities across Renfrewshire following the reduction in services offered at the waste and recycling centres.

"This review cannot be an internal Council review and Councillor MacMillan has to consult the local public on this matter.

"It’s clear that the local community are deeply angry over the decision to partly close the waste and recycling sites in Renfrew, Linwood, Johnstone and Erskine. This has led to an increase in fly-tipping across Renfrewshire and in order to help Councillor MacMillan understand the impact that this is causing, I have sent him a number of pictures which have been sent to me by local constituents and which highlight the impact that’s being felt by our communities.

"I am pleased that Councillor MacMillan has noted that this decision to reduce services available was perhaps a mistake. It’s clear that this potential change of heart is due to the pressure put on him by the communities themselves and the SNP.

"Councillor MacMillan should now hold up his hands, admit his mistake and reverse his deeply unpopular decision and restore services at the local waste and recycling sites."

Councillor Kenny MacLaren, SNP for Paisley North West has also slammed the "bizarre" comment that residents should avoid using Underwood Road Recycling Centre during peak hours.

He believes that this highlights problems that the Labour council has created with the downgrading of other amenity sites across Renfrewshire.

Cllr MacLaren said: "Are they seriously expecting people to say to their bosses at work, I’m just skipping out to the recycling centre during my working hours as this Labour council can’t provide basic services?

"Would the Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council allow staff to walk out of the customer service centre or any other council department to allow them to dispose of household rubbish – simply because the council can’t run this service properly? I don’t think so.

"The real problem is that under Labour’s cost cutting, Renfrewshire effectively only has one recycling centre. It is overloaded.

"I’ve been a few times since the cuts were made to other amenity sites and have seen first hand – even at off peak hours like 3pm on Tuesday afternoon – that Underwood Road Recycling Centre can’t cope with the amount of people attending there.

"No amount of traffic management systems can alleviate a problem of Labour’s own making.

"All Labour have to do is admit they’ve made a mistake, re-instate the services at the other amenity sites and the problem is sorted. The time for excuses is over. Labour have made a right mess of the recycling centres and it’s time for them to sort the problem."

Councillor Mark Macmillan, Leader of Renfrewshire Council, responded by saying: "Year on year the money we receive from the Scottish and UK Governments is decreasing which means in real terms we have about £14 million less this financial year than in 2012.

"We have a duty to operate within the budget provided and as our cost pressures continue to increase we have a number of challenges to meet.

"That means we have to take difficult decisions that allow us to continue to invest in the vital services we provide for communities across Renfrewshire. We want to carry on investing in our economy and create long term jobs. We want to support our schools and families to ensure every child has the same opportunity in life. We want to make the area a place where people want to live and work.

"As we approach the next financial year we will have to make those decisions again. The decision to change arrangements at waste amenity sites was taken in this context we will keep this under review and continue to monitor the impact, listening to those who have a view.

"This is the right thing to do and our local MP and MSPs would do well to focus on supporting Renfrewshire and its communities to ensure it gets a fair deal."

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said, "Renfrewshire Council provides a bulk uplift service where we collect large items that people want to dispose of, like fridges, washing machines, beds and sofas. These items are usually left on the pavement for collection. During 2015/16 we received nearly 7,700 bulk uplift requests."