A VACANT seat on Machynlleth Town Council could be left empty until community council elections in May.

Former mayor Gareth Jones called time on his six-and-a-half year spell on the town council this month, saying he had become frustrated after feeling that he couldn’t fully represent residents in the town.

Current mayor Tony Jones paid tribute to Mr Jones after hearing the news.

However, town council clerk Rab Jones said he would be recommending to the January meeting of the council that the seat should be left empty until town and community council elections scheduled to be held on 4 May this year.

He said: “At the next meeting of the town council on Monday evening, 30 January, I will be recommending that his seat on the town council be left vacant until the local elections take place on 4 May.”

That would see the council sitting with one fewer councillor, but would spare the town council the cost of holding an election or co-opting a new councillor only for an election to then be held in May.

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