MACHYNLLETH Town Council has had to abandon a plan to provide a new weekly waste collection service in the town after finding it would cost almost £90,000 a year.

The council had asked for estimates on how much it would cost to operate a waste collection service on Saturdays, similar to a service that was run by Powys County Council before it was axed in a cost-cutting step.

But shocked town councillors heard that figures provided by Cllr Phyl Davies, Powys Council’s portfolio holder for property and waste, showed that it would cost more than £89,500 annually for a collection once a week.

Cllr Michael Williams said the cost meant that the town council would not be able to fund a collection on its own without support from other community councils in the area, even if it was decided to try and provide a fortnightly or monthly collection.

He said it could still be worth the town council writing to neighbouring community councils to see if they would be interested in contributing to such a service.

He said: “This would be too much for the town council on its own, but if other councils were prepared to come in with us it could be possible.

“I could see it as perhaps being a viable service if some or all of the other Dyfi Valley community councils came in with us.”

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