Councillors were taught a bit of Welsh mythology before they unanimously approved a motion which will see Powys County Council become more environmentally friendly.

Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Elwyn Vaughan put forward the motion and told councillors the sad tale of Cantre Gwaelod.

Cantre’r Gwaelod is Wales’ own tale of Atlantis, of a land west of Aberystwyth sinking beneath the sea due to the carelessness of the watcher, Seithennyn, who was drunk and failed to close the dykes and stop the tide flowing onto the fertile land.

He added that the tree stumps that can sometimes be seen off the coast of Borth and Aberdyfi are the remnants of the sunken kingdom

Cllr Vaughan, who represents Glantwymyn, said: “Hopefully people today won’t be the same as Seithennyn, drunk and blind to the threat to our environment.

“We need to think about what sort of legacy we will be leaving to future generations.”

Cllr Jackie Charlton said: “I’m happy to support this. This gets my absolute support I have been a campaigner for climate change for at least 20 years, and I really hope to see that we’ll find some way of demonstrating how we as a council are having an impact.”

The main points of the motion called Green Heart of Wales, are that Powys council supports the principles of Zero Carbon Britain and the work done by the CAT (Centre of Alterative Technology near Machynlleth); asks the pension trustees to develop a strategy of divestment from fossil fuels; looks at best practice from other authorities; and highlights that green technologies and new economic opportunities as part of an environmental sustainability should be a fundamental part of the Mid Wales Growth deal.

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