Residents to question councillors on Abermule plans

Dozens of people from Abermule are expected to make the journey to Powys County Hall in Llandrindod Wells to vent their frustrations over the planned bulk recycling site planned for the village when councillors meet on Thursday.

Three members of Abermule Communities Together (ACT) will have questions to ask the council.

They are also hoping that at the meeting councillors will also vote against the “virement motion” which could see more than £2.7 million set aside to build the waste bulking facility at Abermule during the next financial year.

ACT also wants to give a presentation on the sites they have found to the Cabinet.

In December 2018 at a packed public meeting in Abermule the Recycling and Assets portfolio holder, Cllr Phyl Davies (Conservative Blaen Hafren), gave villagers hope that the development might not happen if they could find a similar site so that the development could be moved there.

Jeff Mathews, of ACT, said: “There are options – the  GT Evans site (In Newtown) in fact fits all parameters set by PCC. But it could be sold before PCC get into action. That’s why we need to present to them as soon as possible. There is no time to lose."

ACT also has a presentation on YouTube that explains their position and the sites they have found.

They hope that county councillors will watch the two minutes and 37 seconds presentation so that they can make up their own minds about their case.

The YouTube presentation identifies the GT Evans site on the Mochdre Industrial Estate as an option and lists the reasons why.

The group has also identified the former Cae Post recycling facility at Criggion Lane, Trewern, owned by Powys Council. The facility closed in March 2017 with the loss of 17 jobs after the Cae Post charity lost its recycling contract with Powys County Council.

The county council says it has already dismissed that idea because of its location.

Since the planning committee approved the Bulking Waste Facility application by just one vote in August 2018, the council has received heavy criticism from protesters in the village.

Villagers believe the Transfer Facility they plan to build is far too big for Aband should go on an industrial estate.

Council officers have stressed that the facility  would help the authority deal with hitting Welsh Government recycling targets of 70 per cent by 2024/25.

They believe the recycling bulking facility is “essential to maximise the efficiency” of the collection vehicles and is: “ideally located between the two main population centres of north Powys.”