A controversial move to bin Bordon’s household waste and recycling centre has been scrapped – but at a cost to other services run by Hampshire County Council.

Cabinet members unanimously voted on Monday to keep a dozen HWRCs open that were previously earmarked for closure in a bid to save £1.6million.

The news has been widely welcomed with Farnham & Bordon MP Greg Stafford and county councillors Andy Tree and Debbie Curnow-Ford breathing a sigh of relief following the D-Day announcement in Winchester.

“Access to a HWRC is vital for residents in Whitehill & Bordon and the wider East Hampshire area,” said Mr Stafford.

“I am tremendously pleased to hear that today the decision was made to keep these tips open.”

Opponents feared the closures would lead to more fly-tipping and extra emissions caused by users forced to travel further afield to use HWRCs.

Even HCC leader, Cllr Nick Adams-King, admitted his doubts with the proposal, saying “it’s very clear to me the public do not support this process” with a county-wide review of the service now likely.

But while the move to save a dozen tips has been generally welcomed, a dozen other equally vital services have felt the brunt of bruising costs as HCC scrambles to save more than £170million.

The cuts include a £7.5million drop in funding for annual highway maintenance, less gritting on the county’s roads and streetlights being switched off for longer periods.

Parking charges will also be introduced at HCC-run rural sites and some local bus and taxi-share services subsidised by the council will be axed in a bid to save £570,000.

Some £2million in support for homeless services is also being axed while funding to libraries and cultural institutions is also being reduced in a bid to cut many HCC services to “the bare bones”.