91Èȱ¬

Council bosses have backed plans to build a waste recycling centre in a rural village despite local opposition.

Letters signed by more than 200 people from Abermule were presented to Powys cabinet members urging a re-think.

Campaigners said the £2.7m scheme - granted planning permission by a majority of one last August - was more suited to an industrial estate.

Phyl Davies, cabinet member for recycling, said difficult decisions had to be made and not fudged.

The facility will handle domestic recycling of items such as glass, cans and food waste.

But residents fear an increase in traffic and noise will spoil the area.

Presenting the letters of objection, Wendy Ellis from the protest group Abermule Communities Together said: "We believe building this in our village would be a big mistake."

She accused the council of doing "just the bare legal amount" to warn the community of its plans.

"It was brought in under the radar as far as we are concerned," Ms Ellis added.

Defending the plan, Councillor Davies said Abermule was the most suitable site after analysis of 12 possible locations, ideally located between Newtown and Welshpool, the two main population centres of north Powys.

"In my two years as a cabinet member I don't think anything has had quite as much scrutiny or as much air time as this has," he said.

Following the vote, members of ACT told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they will continue their campaign against the facility.