MACHYNLLETH town councillors have hit out at Powys County Council after being refused permission to site a private plastic film waste collection bin at the town’s car park.

The town council is currently considering paying for a private plastic film waste collection to ensure a service is provided for the town’s residents and had asked Powys council if it could place a collection bin at the central car park in town as a convenient location.

But the town council has been told that will not be allowed, because it would take up valuable parking spaces.

Cllr Michael Williams said, while tin can and plastic recycling bins had been removed by Powys council­, it was disappointing that the county council had ruled out placing a private collection bin there which would be paid for by the town council.­

He said: “I’m very disappointed there has been an answer of no, but we must seek clarification on what bins are there.”

Councillors agreed to ask Powys council what recycling bin facilities will be available in the car park, but will also approach the Co-op in Machynlleth to see if the supermarket chain would allow a plastic film recycling bin to be placed in its car park.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Powys council’s Cabinet member for waste and recycling, said: “We have previously provided containers for cans and plastics at our community recycling sites.

“These banks were contaminated with general waste on a regular basis and also tended to attract fly-tipping around the banks and it falls to us to clear up and pay for any fly-tipping at these sites.

“This problem has reduced significantly since the banks were removed so we would not be prepared for other operators to reintroduce this service on county council property.”

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now