Machynlleth Town Council’s decision to support the call for Welsh independence has been criticised.

The town council agreed to support Yes Cymru’s call for Welsh independence at their May meeting after new mayor Monica Atkins cast the deciding vote following a deadlock amongst councillors.

That has prompted criticism from some residents, with one letter, sent by David Holt, questioning whether the council “had the right” to make the decision without asking for the views of the town and holding some form of consultation.

Cllr Glenda Jenkins said she had been concerned about the council’s decision to support the call, saying there had not been a full debate and that the council hadn’t fully discussed important issues, including the economy, and that the information provided was “high on emotional rhetoric and low on substance”.

She said: “I was frankly amazed this town council voted on this with almost no discussion at all.”

But Cllr Rhydian Mason, the councillor who had put the item on the agenda, said there was growing support amongst town councils, with three other town councils following Machynlleth’s example and supporting the call for independence.

He said that providing evidence on the economy was made more difficult by the fact that Wales had never had the chance to run its own economy separately, but said there were a number of positives that suggested Wales had reasons to be optimistic and could stand on its own feet.

Cllr Mason also said he had followed all regulations to put the matter before the council.

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