A WASTE service introduced to soften the blow of the closure of a recycling centre in Machynlleth has been axed, sparking anger and upset in the community.

Powys council closed the popular Potters Yard in Machynlleth in January 2015 after arguing that at £230,000 to £430,000 a year, it was “too expensive” to run, leaving residents unhappy about having to travel to Aberystwyth to reach their nearest centre.

In a compromise move, a Saturday service was introduced at the Maengwyn car park for residents to use, but the council has now axed that too in a further cost-cutting move.

Cllr Michael Williams has called the move a “disgrace” and a “kick in the teeth” for the people of Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley.

“I am absolutely appalled at this decision,” Cllr Williams said.

“The people of Machynlleth should not have to accept this.

“To say I am disappointed that the council has withdrawn a service it promised us after the closure of Potters is a massive understatement.”

The Saturday bulky waste service in Machynlleth will be withdrawn from September after a decision taken by Powys Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on 10 May.

The service will reduce to fortnightly with a ban on residual waste in black sacks for a period of three months from 1 June, with a complete withdrawal of the service from 1 September.

The move will save Powys Council around £70,000 a year.

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “With the ever-reducing budgets available to us, difficult decisions need to be made and unfort­unately we can no longer continue with this service due to the high running costs involved.

The council said that the community recycling site will continue to operate at Maengwyn Street car park and, following the removal of the Saturday service, “a small waste electrical recycling bank will be added to the site enabling residents to recycle a wider range of materials”.

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