A former Machynlleth highways depot and the old Llanidloes library will be auctioned off after Powys County Council chiefs ruled the properties were not needed.

The council will also look to sell three properties it owns in Foundry Street in Llanidloes.

The properties are among a number of council-owned properties that will be sold after being declared as surplus to requirements, and Machynlleth and Llanidloes councillors are backing the council’s decision.

The former DSO yard in Machynlleth and the former Llanidloes library are not currently being used by the council and were identified by council departments as able to be sold.

David Micah, the council’s commercial property manager, said: “Over recent months a number of council services have been proactive in declaring various property assets surplus to their requirements.

“The Corporate Asset Policy has been followed and consideration has been given to the most app­ropriate mechanism of marketing and disposing of a number of property assets, many of which require modernisation and improvement.

“Due to the nature of these properties, it is considered that sale by auction is the most appropriate method of disposal, while also providing the best opportunity to ensure that capital receipts are received before the end of the year to help meet the council’s capital income targets.”

The former highways yard in Machynlleth has not been used by the department for some time and local councillor Michael Williams said he was supportive of the decision to sell the land.

He said: “I support the sale of this parcel of county council land as it is surplus to the county’s requirements.

“It is important that all such land in similar circumstances be sold.”

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