Hopes are rising that Petersfield’s tip may have been saved from the scrapheap thanks to a show of people power and opposition from councillors.

Hampshire County Council plans to close a dozen Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) came before a committee last Thursday as part of a greater bid to save at least £138million.

Petersfield is one of the 12 but a reprieve may be on the cards as the Universal Services Select Committee has unanimously disagreed with the closure plan and want the council to seek alternatives.

One said the closures would lead to more sofas appearing by the roadside while Cllr Rob Mocatta, who chairs the committee, said during the Winchester meeting that the residents of Petersfield feel extremely strong about keeping the tip open.

He said: “Petersfield had the second highest number of respondents and this was the single biggest issue by miles I’ve had in my inbox in eight years.”

The Cabinet will make a final decision on October 14.