BATH and North East Somerset Council has dropped plans to cut the hours of recycling centres and introduce a charge for its discovery cards.

The council had proposed saving £200,000 a year by reducing the hours at Bath Recycling Centre and Old Welton Recycling Centre in Midsomer Norton and, at the same time, generating an estimated £50,000 a year by introducing a ‘small charge’ for the council’s discovery cards.

Both measures were going to be included in the council’s budget for 2026/27, which goes to a vote later this month, but have now been dropped.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Lansdown Mark Elliott, cabinet member for resources, said in a statement: “The council is committed to listening to residents and I want to thank everyone who took part in the budget consultation.

“As a result of your feedback we will keep the same opening hours for our waste and recycling centres, and won’t be changing the terms of the residents’ discovery card.”

The cards, available free to residents of Bath and North East Somerset, grant admission to attractions such as the Roman Baths, and a host of discounts across the area. The idea of introducing a charge for the cards generated around one third of all responses to the council’s budget consultation.

Liberal Democrat Keynsham East councillor Andy Wait told the meeting he was “very pleased” that the cuts to the recycling centre hours had been dropped. The idea had sparked concern when the budget proposal was considered by the council’s climate scrutiny committee.

He told Cllr Elliott: “That was number one on our list of moans about the budget because we felt that there was a risk that there would be a lot of extra mileage to the Keynsham site if those cuts went ahead, so thank you for listening to the panel.”