A BUSINESSMAN who is taking over a household waste site earmarked for closure has said the service will only survive if people are prepared to pay.

The future of Southwold household waste centre looked uncertain when Suffolk County Council pulled funding earlier this year.

The site looked set to close at the end of July until Waveney District Council agreed to fund the site for an extra six months – giving interested parties extra time to come up with long term plans.

Now Graham Murray, who runs Sole Bay Car Parts in Southwold, has signed a deal with Suffolk County Council and Southwold Town Council to open the site as a commercial venture.

It will be called the Sole Bay Community Recycling Centre and open seven days a week – from 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on a Sunday.

Charges will apply and for household waste they are set at �3 per car, �6 per estate car, �12 per trailer and �20 per van. For commercial waste charges will be �20 for a car, �25 for an estate and �50 for a trailer or van.

Speaking at a Southwold Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Mr Murray warned that if people do not pay to use the site it would fail. He said: “We’re looking at running a three-month trial to see if it works out.

“I really don’t know at this stage whether people are prepared to pay. We’re working in the dark a little with this. It’s a new venture for everybody involved.

“Hopefully we can make a go of it and keep this service local.”

Under council control the site, which was free to use, was visited a 44,200 times a year and processed 920 tonnes of waste.

It has been estimated that site operators will have to pay �75,000 a year to dispose of “black waste” – the household rubbish that cannot be reused or recycled, brought to the site.

If people living in Southwold, Reydon and nearby villages refuse to pay and opt to travel to the free waste centre in Lowestoft or Leiston, the Southwold venture is unlikely to succeed.

Lisa Chambers, portfolio holder for waste at Suffolk County Council, said: “People told us they would rather pay than lose their site.

“Legally we are not allowed to charge, so I am delighted that we have been able to find a way to retain the centre in Southwold by working with the district, town and parish councils and a local company.”

The site is due to open under its new name on August 22.