THE Newland waste site is unlikely to close for its promised refurbishment until after the August bank holiday.

The site is due to shut for 20 weeks while its operator, Mercia Waste Management/ Severn Waste Services, upgrades the facilities.

But Jeff Romanis, of Worcestershire County Council, the waste disposal authority, confirmed this week that it was not likely to close until the beginning of September.

He was speaking after a meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's overview and scrutiny committee on Monday (July 22), where councillors said closure should wait until after the bank holiday.

"That seems to be what people want so that's what we're aiming towards," he said.

Mr Romanis said that as much notice as possible would be given.

"We can't just give a few days' notice in something like this, it just isn't enough," he said.

MHDC is to look at the possibility of placing rubbish skips in parishes surrounding the town while the tip is closed.

Colin Davis, the council's director of operational services, presented a report outlining the possibilities.

He told members that finding an alternative site was not practical because it would need both planning permission and a licence from the Environment Agency.

But he said Worcestershire County Council was offering up to £20,000 to help pay for extra waste collection, or clearance of fly tipping, while the waste site is closed.

Another idea is to see if green bags for garden waste, which normally cost 50p, can be distributed and collected free while the tip is closed.

Coun Rob Richards (Powyke) said: "We need to grasp this opportunity to encourage people to recycle more of their rubbish. Here in Malvern Hills we only manage to recycle six or seven per cent. In the New Forest it's 35 per cent."