A POWYS County Councillor is set to complain about an official council response made to claims that the daughters of Charlie Birch face eviction from his home.

Charlie Birch, 39, was struck by a car as he walked along a road near Paphos in Cyprus in the early hours of June 24.

Welshpool Castle Ward Cllr Phil Pritchard  spoke at a meeting of the Health Care and Housing Scrutiny Committee, today (Wednesday, September 26).

He rubbished a statement on the issue that had been put out by the council to defend the under fire department.

He had brought the eviction up at a previous meeting of the scrutiny committee earlier this month.

Following the meeting Powys County Council have said that they are "currently suitably housed at other properties."

Cllr Pritchard said: "I made a statement at the last meeting about a family in Welshpool.

" I take exceptional offence at the press release put out by this council saying I was mistaken and totally wrong, this that and the other.

"I am taking it to full council, I just want members to know, I wasn't mistaken.

"I have never been mistaken on this.

"I have a letter dated August 23, the last comment says "will you let us know when your giving us the keys back because of all the reasons we have given to you, you can't have this house."

"That was fact, that's what I'm working on,

"But someone has put a press release out saying that I'm incorrect.

"That they have never been asked to leave the house, they are not under threat of eviction.

"I have never seen such a disgusting statement against a councillor before in my life and I will be taking it further."

At the previous meeting Cllr Pritchard had explained that Charlie Birch's daughters were attached to the house where they spent weekends with their father.

They would go to school on Monday mornings from his house and then go to their mother's home.

Cllr Pritchard had said that their grandmother was ready to move there and give up her bungalow, but has been told she cannot do that as she is already adequately housed.

The "offending" rebuttal of Cllr Pritchard's claims was made as an official statement by the housing portfolio holder Cllr James Evans on behalf of the department in response to the original outburst .

In the statement Cllr Evans said that Cllr Pritchard's claims were not factually correct.

Cllr Evans had also said that the family was "not facing eviction" and the decision was being "reviewed."

A spokesman for Powys County Council said:

“We have every sympathy with the family following the tragic death of Mr Birch and understand that this is a difficult time for them.

“We are unable to provide detailed circumstances of the case.

"However, the information that we have received clearly indicates that the family are currently suitably housed at other properties.

“The council is required to allocate accommodation in accordance with its allocation scheme.”

“An assessment of the family’s circumstances has been made by officers in accordance with the council’s policy.

“It would be inappropriate for a family member to take on this tenancy as it would clearly breach council policy, the relevant legislation and the Welsh Government Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Housing.”

A 35-year-old man appeared in a court in Paphos on earlier this month and denied a charge of premeditated murder. The defendant, who cannot be identified under Cypriot law, was remanded in custody and  will appear for trial on 29 January.