MONTGOMERYSHIRE MP Glyn Davies has called on Powys County Council to keep the county’s two remaining recycling centres open.

The prospect of a further closure comes after the council’s controversial decision to withdraw Machynlleth’s weekend bulky waste collection service, which operated from the Maengwyn Street car park, following its introduction to minimise the effect of the closure of Potters Yard in January 2015.

It was reported in the Cambrian News in October that Powys County Council had crushed all hopes of reopening the Machynlleth recycling centre following a petition, with the council claiming it must close a centre in Welshpool or Newtown to realise £700,000 of savings.

But Glyn Davies MP has hit out at Powys County Council, and called on them to keep both recycling centres in Newtown and Welshpool open by reducing the hours they are open, if necessary, in order to prevent an increase in fly-tipping.

The Conservative MP said: “Whilst I accept that Powys County Council has to reduce costs across in most of its services, I do not think complete closure of recycling sites is a sensible way forward.

“Such a step would discourage recycling and inevitably lead to more illegal dumping.

“Rather than close outright either of the well-used recycling sites run by Potters at Welshpool or Newtown, the council could instead reduce the hours when they are open.

“I will be reinforcing this view when I meet with council leaders next week."

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