POWYS council has said it is considering taking legal action after learning that Bupa is transferring the running of 12 care homes in the county, including the ones in Machynlleth and Llanidloes, to a third party.

Bupa has had a contract to run the council-owned homes for 16 years – including Cartref Dyfi on Bank Lane in Machynlleth and the under-threat Maes-y-Wennol home in Llanidloes which was subject to warnings of a loss of funding last year.

Machynlleth councillor Michael Williams said the move has caused “uncertainty and anxiousness”.

And concerned unions are calling for the council to bring the homes back “in-house”.

Bupa plans to transfer its care homes to HC-One, but the leader of Powys County Council, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said the council had not been involved in discussions and learned about the move through media reports.

“We have not had any formal confirmation from BUPA regarding this matter and have not been involved in discussions,” Cllr Harris said.

“We are considering taking legal action. We are seeking an urgent meeting with Bupa but we do not anticipate any change to service delivery."

Cllr Williams told the Cambrian News that there are “real concerns” about the home in Machynlleth following the news.

“It is a huge worry for residents, staff and relatives,” he said. “It causes a lot of uncertainty.”

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes edition for the full story, in shops and online now