Councillors last week agreed that the north-west corner of the Grove Nursery in Hazlehead should be the preferred site for the city’s fifth recycling centre.

The decision was taken despite opposition from the community and some Liberal Democrat councillors, who are concerned about the project’s impact on local roads and the site’s proximity to primary and secondary schools in Hazlehead.

“We don’t feel it is appropriate to put a recycling centre into a residential area, especially so close to schools,” said Christine Boylan, of Craigiebuckler and Seafield Community Council.

“We also feel that it could cause horrendous problems on the roads. There hasn’t been a public consultation and there’s no statistical information on the usage of the other sites. As a community council we totally believe a recycling centre in the west of the city is appropriate, it was just the location.”

Housing and environment committee members rejected other potential sites for the facility, including at Kingswells park and ride, Hazledene Road, Pinewood, Hazlehead Caravan Park, Hazlehead bus park, Rousay Drive, Whitemyres Estate, Greenfern and Granitehill.

Committee convener and Lib Dem group deputy leader Aileen Malone wanted to put the plans on hold until after the summer to allow consideration of a joint centre between Kingswells and Westhill, but she was defeated.

Hazlehead councillor Martin Greig said: “People are furious about this proposal. They are very angry that it is scarcely known about in the area.”

A planning application is still to be lodged for the centre, which would be financed and run by the company contracted by the council to operate its waste management services, Sita UK.

Housing and environment vice-convener Mark McDonald said: “The search for an appropriate site for a west of the city recycling centre has been ongoing since before I started attending primary school.

“It was clear that Grove Nursery was the most appropriate site and I do not believe we can continue to delay this vital infrastructure project.

“It will not only help us increase recycling rates but also benefit residents in the rest of the west of the city by providing recycling facilities within their reach.”