AN online campaign has been launched urging Powys County Council to reconsider proposed funding cuts to Powys Citizens Advice Bureau.

As the council seek to save £20 million in the next financial year in an attempt to balance its books for 2014/2015 - part of an overall three-year £40 million cost-cutting exercise by the council, Chris Mann, the chair of Powys CAB, is leading a campaign to oppose the controversial plans that would see the voluntary body stripped of its entire £93,580 budget from April 1 this year

"In 2013 alone," he said, "Powys CAB dealt with 21,194 advice issues, assisted 6,134 clients and secured £2.2m in welfare benefit income for clients. This money is fed straight back into the overall economy of Powys, and many thousands of people will be deprived of this lifeline to their rights if this most regrettable action is taken."

The Powys County Council cabinet will be considering the proposals on Tuesday, February 18, with recommendations then going to full council to set the budget on Tuesday, February 25.