An urgent review is to be carried out into the impact of reducing the opening days of the county’s five household waste and recycling centres, Powys County Council’s cabinet has announced.

The county council reduced the opening days of the county’s five centres to three days a week in April and introduced restrictions on the type of vehicle that could use them as part of budget saving measures.

Cllr Phyl Davies, the Cabinet member for Waste, said: "I have called for a very urgent review of the impact of the changes introduced at the county’s household waste and recycling centres. We will also look again at the vehicle restrictions that were introduced at the same time.

"Powys is committed to reducing waste and increasing recycling rates but the recent changes have sent out mixed messages and we need to reassure the public. The changes have attracted considerable comment and were the centre of public concern during the council election campaign.

"It was always the council’s intention to review the impact of the changes but I have asked for that work to take place as a matter of urgency.

"This cabinet is committed to delivering changes for the residents of Powys and tackling the issues that are causing most concern," he added.

Opening days at the five household waste centres Brecon, Llandegley, Newtown, Welshpool and Lower Cwmtwrch in Ystradgynlais were reduced in February following a review of the service.

The current opening days and times for the centres are:

Brecon: Monday and Tuesday (9am-5pm); Sundays (9am-4pm)

Llandegley: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays (10am-4pm)

Newtown: Tuesday and Thursdays (9am-5pm); Sundays (9am-4pm)

Welshpool: Monday and Fridays (9am-5pm); Saturdays (9am-4pm)

Lower Cwmtwrch, Ystradgynlais: Thursday and Fridays (9am-5pm); Saturdays (9am-4pm)

Restrictions on the type of vehicles that can access the centres came into effect on the same time.