Hundreds join protest over recycling centre - with pictures and video
An MP has promised he will do all he can to help a small village fighting plans for a recycling plant.
In August a planning application made by Powys County Council (PCC) itself for the facility at Abermule Business Park, near Newtown, was passed by just one vote, by its planning committee.
It was the first some residents of the village, which stands between Newtown and Welshpool, had heard of the plans to site the depot in the rolling countryside.
On Saturday, hundreds of residents marched from the village hall to the site of the waste disposal centre, waving placards and banners and bringing passing traffic to a halt.
Reading 'Keep Our Village Alive - No Toxic Air' and 'Recycle Yes, Rural Vandalism No' the protestors were led by a jazz band.
Addressing the crowd Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, said he would do all he could.
"This is just not acceptable," he said. "I have written to the chairman of the council and they should reconsider the development. Another developer has come forward for a site near Newtown. That site is more suitable and I think the council should look at that site which is far more appropriate. I agree with everybody in the village on this and have listened to the views of my constituents."
Jeff Matthews, chairman of Abermule Communities Together was one of those responsible for organising the peaceful protest.
He said: "We all support recycling but we do not believe this is the right place for such a massive recycling plant.
"It will have a massive effect on the local community. Hundreds of people feel very aggrieved that they have not been given their democratic right. This has not been widely publicised and we are seeking to overturn the planning approval. Powys County Council can change this decision if they want to. We have got very good reasons why this should not go ahead."
Retired chartered quantity surveyor Martin Aymes from Cefn-y-Coed said: "This is just wrong. It is the wrong building in the wrong place. The planning approval for the business park was granted in 2014 but nothing has happened since. That is why this has been able to go ahead. This has been in the Local Development Plan since 2014. I have spent hours and hours studying the documentation on this looking for the right route to go down."
Sheridan Bryce, a healthcare assistant from Abermule was one of those on the march.
Holding her placard she said: "It is unbelievable to put something like this in the village. The congestion on the roads will increase and the waste will attract hundreds of seagulls and vermin. It would be better to build some houses there. Anything would be better than this."
Previously Powys County Council has said the location of the proposed facility is 'ideally located' to serve north Powys.
