COMMUNITY leaders in Selkirk fear that their town will be used as a fly-tipping dumping ground during the four-months closure of the recycling centre.

Scottish Borders Council announced last month that the Riverside community recycling centre will close for 16 weeks.

And that anyone wanting to use recycling facilities should go to either Galashiels or Hawick.

But angry community councillors believe an alternative facility should have been in place to prevent fly-tipping.

Vice chairman Ian King said: "I don't think it is acceptable that people from Selkirk have to go to either Galashiels or Hawick.

"You are asking for trouble and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a lot of fly-tipping during the closure."

The town's recycling centre closed this week to allow for a diversion route to be built through the site as part of the ongoing flood defence scheme.

During the 16 weeks closure a new centre will be developed.

Representatives from Scottish Borders Council gave a presentation of the new layout at Monday's meeting of Selkirk Community Council.

A spokeswoman said: "The new site will be a lot safer and there won't be any need for temporary closures like we have now when there is a need to empty the skips.

"The new centre will be longer and thinner, and it will collect all the same materials that it does just now."

But anger over the the four-months closure was still vented.

Mr King added: "The Selkirk public are being short-changed.

"Even a temporary reintroduction of garden waste uplifts would have helped."

Fellow community councillor Tommy Combe also pushed for the additional service during the closure.

He said: "We are at that time of year when people are starting to tidy up their gardens. Where are we supposed to take the garden waste?

"A garden waste uplift would go a long way to help matters."

Selkirk Recycling Centre closed on Monday - and it isn't due to reopen until May 30.

Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne believes it is worth the wait. She said: "We will end up with a safer and better recycling centre.

"This is a positive move."