A FORMER Machynlleth mayor has questioned why the town council is taking over the café at Y Plas.

But while Gareth Jones has warned the council’s decision could be seen as trying to compete against other businesses in the town, mayor Tony Jones insisted the council had to stay tight-lipped about issues as it went through a legal process regarding a lease of the café.

The town council was criticised after it emerged Bwyty Y Plas was leaving Y Plas and the town council taking over the café.

Mr Jones, who insisted he was speaking as a resident of the town, wrote to the town council about the issue.

In his letter Mr Jones warned that residents in the town could question whether the town council was taking on too much.

He said: “I am certain that most right-thinking people would say the whole point of councils and councillors is to represent and support individuals and businesses in their constituency, not to compete against them."

Mr Jones claimed a better use of the premises could have been to offer banks which are leaving Machynlleth a joint premises, or trying to ensure services that have left the town to maintain a presence.

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