TOWN councillors condemned cuts to Haslemere services made by Waverley, which come into force on Monday, April 3, when they met last Thursday.

They fired off a hard-hitting letter of objection to Waverley leader councillor Julia Potts in early March, protesting Haslemere had been used as a “soft target” to help plug the borough’s £1.5 million budget deficit.

From Monday, Haslemere lost the borough council’s free weekly green waste collection at Wey Hill car park. The town also stands to lose its public toilets in the High Street car park as soon as an alternative provider can be found, and The Edge Leisure Centre’s future is in doubt.

At last week’s meeting, members discussed the possibility of the town council taking over axed services if that was financially possible.

Deputy town mayor Malcolm Carter said: “We are trying to get hold of Waverley to discuss the potential closure of The Edge. It’s a major sports facility and those people using it are extremely concerned. I understand Waverley thinks The Edge is not efficient because it’s not used more – but are they prepared to let someone else manage it and invest in it.”

Mayor Sharan Abeysundara added: “The Edge is also the counting centre for elections because it’s the largest centre in Waverley. There is no alternative venue offering the necessary parking and security.

“I am also extremely concerned about Haslemere losing its public toilets. Last year, we applied for an official tourist sign to say it’s a historic town and were told the criteria for that requires having public toilets.

“They are well used for all the town events we host. Waverley needs to open negotiations with us.”

Other members agreed a market town must have public toilets. Jim Edwards who sits on the town and borough councils, said: “The decision has been made and agreed. The town council needs to say it will take them over and that it wants to be the same as Cranleigh.”

The meeting heard the toilets were subject to a restrictive covenant that they could only be used as public conveniences and there was no possibility of leasing part of the building out commercially to help pay for them.

Members also discussed the possibility of the town council taking on the weekly green waste collection and if making it a fortnightly rather than a weekly service would make it financially viable.

“Haslemere is the gateway to South Downs National Park and is surrounded by National Trust land,” councillor William King said. “Fly tipping is going to start, we will get people dumping stuff.”

Members agreed to get quotes from two other contractors to see if the service could be restored more cheaply and to request the town council restore it, if it was feasible.