Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe has expressed concerns about the ongoing financial extraction from Hay-on-Wye by Powys County Council, describing it as “disproportionate”.

Cllr Ratcliffe believes that the town is not receiving a fair return in local services or investment.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive and Leader of Powys County Council, Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe said: “I am writing to express deep concern about the ongoing and disproportionate financial extraction from Hay-on-Wye by Powys County Council, without a fair return in local services or investment.

“Figures from the 2023/2024 financial year reveal that Powys County Council generated a total of £1.879 million in car park income across the county. Of this, an astonishing £365,000, almost 20 per cent, came from Hay-on-Wye alone. This is a significant sum drawn from a community of just 898 households, and yet the benefits flowing back into our town are negligible.

“Over the past decade, Powys like other authorities in Wales have steadily offloaded the cost and responsibility of vital community assets onto the towns and communities themselves.

“Services such as public toilets, the swimming pool, sports fields and other facilities have all been handed over or neglected, leaving Hay residents and volunteers to fill the gaps - financially and practically. As a result, residents are now paying twice: once through direct charges and local fundraising, and again through their council tax, much of which is redistributed across the county.

“It is now increasingly difficult, indeed, impossible to defend what can only be described as the systematic leaching of money from our community. Hay is being used as a cash cow to subsidise services elsewhere in the county, particularly in areas such as the highways budget, from which we see little tangible benefit ourselves.

“This situation is unsustainable and unjust. The people of Hay are proud to contribute their share to the wider good of Powys, but the balance has been lost. We urgently need a fairer deal - one that recognises Hay’s contribution and begins to restore investment and support in return.

“Will you, both as chief executive and leader of PCC meet with me and the community council to discuss this issue?”

In response to Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe’s letter, Cllr Jake Berriman, Leader of Powys County Council, said: “I can confirm the receipt of the correspondence and welcome the opportunity to speak with Cllr Ratcliffe about the issues that he has raised, and a meeting invitation has been sent to arrange this as soon as diaries allow.

“Our aim is to work with communities to support them where we can, to look after the interests of their residents and visitors.”