Councillors arriving at County Hall this morning were greeted with placard-waving protesters angry at prosposals to close their “tip”.

The protest outside the headquarters of Kent County Council in Maidstone was organised by Faversham Town Council, but residents from other affected areas are expected to swell the ranks of protesters during the day.

The council is meeting this morning to discuss a report that recommends closing four of its 19 recycling centres across the county in order to shave £1.5 million from its budget.

Those most at risk include Tovil in Maidstone, Faversham, Dartford and Richborough, near Sandwich.

Faversham town councillor Rob Crayford said: “The people of Faversham are outraged at this proposal to close our tip.

“All the options that KCC is considering include the closure of Faversham.

“KCC wants to save money, but it’s just going to cost people more to travel further to another tip, increasing fuel costs and CO₂ emissions.

“All this in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and environmental crisis.

“We want KCC to drop this idea.”

The protesters will have at least one sympathetic voice inside the council chamber.

County councillor Antony Hook, who represents Faversham division, said: “It’s really important that we save Faversham tip.

“It’s used by 900 families each week.

“If KCC goes ahead with this plan to close four tips, there will be more costs to people, more miles driven, more pollution, as people drive to other tips, and very likely more fly-tipping.

“There will be a real cost for our area.”