A protest group have re-iterated calls for a council rethink on a decision to build a bulk recycling facility near their village, as the row over the facility rumbled on ahead of a council progress meeting next week.

Planning permission was granted for the facility, designed to handle recyclable waste, at a site on the edge of Abermule in August 2018, but has attracted strong local opposition from residents.

The council say the alternative sites put forward by campaigners are 'unsuitable', and that fears the site will be used for residual housing waste are unfounded.

However campaigners for pressure group Abermule Communities Together(ACT) say a "high level of discontent and anxiety" remains about the porject within the 700 home Abermule community, and say the authority have "granted themselves planning permission they would never have given to any other organisation."

"We have lost all confidence in PCC cabinet," said Chair Jeff Matthews.

"They are bulldozing a predetermined plan into the heart of our thriving community.

"Despite their statements we consider that they did not fully consult our community. They did the bare legal minimum and early plans were deliberately kept under wraps, using the special codename 'Project Alpha' to avoid any early challenge.

"Abermule expected the prestige business units which were planned in 2009 with low-rise timer-clad units, not a massive corrugated tin shed the size of an aircraft hanger.

ACT say they are not against recycling and deny they are 'NIMBYs', but say the site will be developed as an industrial process which is not suitable for a rural location.

"This is a huge opportunity lost and it shows a complete lack of creativity and imagination," continued Mr Matthews.

"The site stands on an important gateway for Mid and West Wales- it should be used to create technical jobs and promote tourism, not blight the countryside."

Last year, a letter signed jointly by Glyn Davies MP, Russell George AM and Cllr Gareth Pugh following the original approval of the planning application, described it as "disappointing," and asked the council to consider alternative sites.

"Each of us have been made aware of more appropriate and alternative sites that we believe would be more suitable for a recycling bulking facility and transfer plant as proposed," it said.

"I hope you will hear the widespread concern of the residents of Abermule and from many others, and further consider this development. In our opinion, it is in the wrong place, and should never have been given planning permission."

However the council say the alternative sites suggested are not viable. In a response to the County Times Cllr Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets for Powys County Council, said ahead of the meeting: “The county council will receive a progress report on the North Powys bulking facility when it meets on Friday, May 3, as requested by a meeting of the council in February. The report will be for information only.

“The council has considered alternative sites put forward by the Abermule Communities Together group. None of the sites were suitable and the group has been informed of the decision. A further site has since been proposed which has been discussed with the group, the outcome of which is detailed in the council report.

“As has been previously confirmed, there are no plans to use Abermule for residual waste as we have a contract in place to manage this material elsewhere. The building needs to be large enough to accommodate vehicles and the increased recycling that we will be required to collect as we reach the Welsh Government targets.

“There is interest in the six business units at the site but the identities of the potential tenants are confidential at this stage.

“The council received capital funding under the Welsh Government’s Collaborative Change Programme - specifically for recycling initiatives- at short notice and took the opportunity to buy the site prior to planning permission being granted.

“If permission had been refused the site would have been sold and the funds returned.

“Environmental mitigation work was undertaken to the neighbouring pond ahead of the planning application being submitted, at the council’s risk.”