Councillors urge Powys to halt tip-booking introduction

The Powys County Councillors for Trelystan & Trewern and Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant are leading calls for the controversial new tip-booking system to be halted.

Despite a similar system being scrapped in Shropshire last week following a disastrous three months over the border, Powys seems determined to introduce it on April 1 along with charges for some household waste.

But Cllr Amanda Jenner (Trelystan & Trewern ) has teamed up with Conservative colleague Cllr Aled Davies (Llanrhaeadr) to submit an urgent motion to Powys calling for it to be halted.

Cllr Jenner said: “Since the scrapping of a similar system in Shropshire, it is clear that residents here in Powys have significant concerns about the problems the introduction of a booking system will cause here, such as increased fly tipping and that not all residents will be comfortable with or easily able to use such a system.”

Councillor Davies added: “The council should take time to consider the evidence from other local authorities and recognise that introducing a ‘one system fits all’ approach across a county like Powys may not work.”

Powys says the new changes are needed to make savings of up to £400,000 over the next two years.

If the councillors’ motion is accepted, under the constitution it will be debated at the next Full Council meeting in March. 

The wording of the motion is:

“This council recognises the level of public concern regarding the planned introduction of a booking system for household waste recycling centres and calls on Powys County Council to halt the introduction of this booking system in order to consider the evidence from a neighbouring local authority who has cancelled their much-criticised booking system.

The planned introduction of a booking system should be halted whilst it is referred back to the relevant scrutiny committee and then Cabinet for both to consider the recent evidence from neighbouring authorities and to also consider the recent concerns raised by many Powys residents.

This Council also recognises that a one-system fits all approach cannot be applied across a county the size of Powys.”