Sir – Redbridge Recycling Centre is the jewel in the recycling crown and must be kept open to the general public. The county council’s plan to close half its recycling centres is shameful and at time when everyone is recycling more.

Redbridge is Oxfordshire’s most popular centre, serving Oxford and the villages, and recycles 58 per cent of all the rubbish we take there. The hoped-for new centre at Kidlington is an excellent idea, but should be in addition to, not instead of, Redbridge.

Forcing Oxford people to drive to Drayton, or Langford Lane, will cost more in petrol, increase our carbon footprint, clog the roads and risk more fly-tipping.

Residents in Bicester, Chipping Norton and Faringdon will also be hit by the closure of their local recycling centres.

If the county wants to save money on waste it should refuse to sign the Ardley incinerator contract with Viridor.

The county council should surely be helping people to recycle more. Thank goodness household collections are doing so well. In October, Oxford residents pushed the rate of recycling in their doorstep collections up from 38 per cent to a record 47 per cent.

John Tanner (Labour), Board member for a cleaner, greener Oxford