Major development work at Machynlleth’s Bro Ddyfi Hospital will not start until the second half of next year after further delays because road junction improvements will be needed.

Changes will have to be made to the plans, including improvements to the junction with the A489, and Powys Health Board will also have to update the Welsh Government on the changes.

But Machynlleth mayor Monica Atkins has insisted that “the people of Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley deserve better”.

While the scheme has planning permission, Hayley Thomas, the health board’s director of planning and performance, said changes will have to be made to the scheme which will lead to a further delay while the health board updates the Welsh Government.

The work is now not expected to be complete until March 2022.

She said: “This scheme will deliver major improvements to the facilities at the hospital.

“We were successful in receiving full planning permission earlier this year. This is great news and means we can move forward with the plans for the hospital.

“However, this permission included a number of changes to the original scheme, including improvements to the junction between the hospital and the A489 trunk road.

“These changes have had a number of impacts on the scheme.

“This work is underway and subject to business case approval we expect to begin work on site in 2020.”

But Cllr Atkins said she was unhappy with the latest delay.

She said: “At the meeting before last they said work could start in February or March next year, but now that is delayed by another four or five months.

“I think the residents of Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley deserve better."

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