Machynlleth Town Council must push ahead with a proposal to give land over to Powys County Council for a new cemetery, its councillors have agreed.

With the current cemetery set to be full soon, the town council has been in talks with Powys council over alternative provision, with town councillors insisting that action needs to be taken to allow people to be buried in their own community.

That has prompted a full meeting of the council to back a proposal from the council’s Plas Panel that they should “happily give over the land needed for this project from its estate at no charge”.

While that would see land for the new cemetery provided for free, the town council would not have to contribute toward any other costs and would not be expected to provide funding for any work required.

Cllr Michael Williams said it was vital that progress be made, especially with Powys council facing increasing budgetary pressures.

He said: “It’s imperative for us to move this along and not overly delay it.

“Powys council’s budget situation is desperate and is only going to get worse in the next three years. It’s important for us to get on with this so the money for it is there and it’s set up. If we overly delay I can see problems. Let’s ensure the burial space for the next 100 or 200 years.”

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