DAY centres for the elderly, meals on wheels and libraries are all in the line of fire as Powys County Council looks to save £40 million.

The council has warned it must make painful cuts as it faces a £20 million shortfall in the coming financial year and must find savings totalling £40 million over three years.

Council leader David Jones has also appealed for communities to take part in consultations, to be held early next year, on what the council should cut and to even take responsibility from the county council for some services.

He said: "Powys County Council cannot transform the face of public service delivery alone. It needs the understanding, commitment and co-operation of its communities, and partners in the public, private and third sectors," said Cllr Jones.

"We need their support to take responsibility for services that we can no longer provide. It has happened in the past, we have excellent examples of communities taking on valuable services such as tourism, libraries and public facilities but we need more. The county council cannot provide everything and some facilities will have to be taken over by others or likely be lost."

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