THE future of an East Lothian recycling centre will be decided behind closed doors next week as councillors are asked to shut it for good.

Macmerry Recycling Centre has been mothballed since October last year in a cost-cutting measure by cash-strapped East Lothian Council.

READ MORE: Recycling centre to 'temporarily' close within weeks

Now, plans to permanently shut it will be presented to a meeting of elected members, as officers argue it is surplus to requirement, with three other recycling centres located around the county.

A decision on whether to close the facility will be made at a council meeting on Tuesday, at the same time as councillors rule on the fate of Musselburgh's Brunton Hall, which is also facing closure and, potentially, demolition.

Earlier this year, nearly 2,000 people signed a petition calling for Macmerry Recycling Centre to be reopened; however, it was rejected by the council’s petitions committee at a hearing last month.

READ MORE: Petition to reopen Macmerry Recycling Centre rejected

At the meeting, Councillor Norman Hampshire, council leader – who is on record as previously saying that the county needed a new additional recycling centre – accused South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy, who launched the petition, of doing so for “political purposes”.

READ MORE: New recycling centre needed in Haddington, council leader says

Now, a meeting of all councillors will be asked to back officers' recommendation to close the facility permanently.

Discussions of the proposal will be held in private due, the council says, to "commercially sensitive" information surrounding the disposal of the site.

However, a council spokesperson confirmed that the proposal being put to councillors was for a permanent closure of the centre.

They said: “On reviewing operational requirements and associated costs for the site at Macmerry, officers are recommending its permanent closure and that it is declared surplus to requirements. A decision will be for elected members to take.

“In a challenging financial environment in which it is likely that there will be a requirement for East Lothian Council to continue making savings, the closure would result in a one-off saving of £53,000 and a recurring annual saving of £62,000.”

The council added that it continued to operate recycling sites at North Berwick and Dunbar, as well as its modern centre Kinwegar at Wallyford, seven days a week, as well as continuing to offer a bulky waste uplift to residents.