Residents in Abermule will expect compensation for the village if a bulk recycling facility is built, Powys County Council has been told.
A delegation from Abermule Communities Together (ACT) met with council officers and politicians to discuss the proposed Recycling Bulk Transfer Facility for the village.
Regional Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, Helen Mary Jones and Montgomeryshire AM Russell George both attended the meeting.
ACT said that it will be down to the councillors on the cabinet to change their minds about building the facility as they believe officers will continue working towards building it.
ACT chairman, Jeff Mathews, said: “We suggested compensation for the Abermule community if the facility goes ahead.
“Perhaps a new pathway, drop in centre or improvements to the Community Centre?"
On the meeting outcome, Mr Mathews said: “They will look seriously at our alternative sites and ask planning to review the LDP (Local Development Plan) restrictions on them.
“If favourable they will consult the Trunk Road Agency with the view of building the facility there rather than in Abermule.
“If it proves impossible to remove the plant from Abermule, the engineering department will look at all ways they can reduce the size or reposition the building on the site as well as providing more suitable screening.”
ACT vice chairman Steve Meadowcroft added: “I think we made our situation clear. There is deep hurt and anger within the community on the way our village has been treated."
Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste, said: “The meeting was a productive one with a number of issues discussed.
“Assembly Members Russell George and Helen Mary Jones were in attendance and provided valuable input to the discussion and finding a way forward.
“Further sites were discussed along with how we can work with the community to address any concerns that they may have and minimise the impact of any development.
“We look forward to continuing a positive and constructive dialogue.”
The meeting was the culmination of four months work from the protest group members of trying to find an alternative site.
In December 2018 at a public meeting in Abermule, Cllr Phyl Davies gave villagers hope that the development might not happen.
They were given four months to find a similar site so that the development could be moved there.
The planning committee approved the Bulking Waste Transfer Facility application by just one vote in August 2018.
Council officers have stressed that the facility would help the authority hit 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."
