A COUNCILLOR has said he wishes Machynlleth was not in Powys.

Cllr Rhydian Mason made the remarks during a heated discussion on Powys County Council’s consultation into the future of recycling centres across the county.

Cllr Mason said the consultation, which asked residents whether they would rather see reduced opening hours at the county’s five remaining recycling centres, two of which are in Welshpool and Newtown, or see certain ones close altogether, was a “complete farce”.

The council decided to keep all of them open with reduced opening hours in an effort to save £700,000.

Cllr Mason said: “The consultation showed residents overwhelmingly favoured reducing opening hours rather than closing a centre.

“Was there a third option not to reduce the hours at all? If you ask anyone, common sense says no-one would choose the option of closing it altogether.

“Is this the type of consultation that Powys County Council wastes its money on? It is a waste of time.

“The way Powys County Council deals with people of the county in terms of consulting is a complete farce. It is a complete shambles."

Cllr Michael Williams said: “Clearly, people in Machynlleth would very much like to see the return of the bulky waste service, even if it is the fortnightly service for the car park.

“But very little can be gained in pursuing that now, because the current Cabinet has made that decision.

“Following the council elections in May, there will be a chance for this council and councillors to make representations to see the return of a bulky waste collection service.”

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