A review of the controversial booking system and charges introduced at recycling centres across Powys on April 1 will take place this autumn, a senior councillor has confirmed.

At a Powys County Council meeting on Thursday, July 10, Conservative councillors tabled a motion calling for the scheme to be reviewed within six months of its launch. The review will help determine whether the system should remain in place.

The changes sparked uproar when they were announced earlier this year. Cllr Joy Jones (Powys Independents), the council’s anti-poverty champion, launched a petition against the scheme, which gained support from more than 4,200 people.

Cllr Amanda Jenner (Trelystan and Trewern), who put forward the motion, noted that Shropshire Council had performed a U-turn earlier this year - just months after introducing a similar scheme.

“Shropshire listened and I hope that you will too,” said Cllr Jenner.

Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies seconded the motion and called for a “full review” that would also consider cross-border recycling centre issues.

He pointed out that residents in his ward of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin face a 20-mile journey to the recycling centre in Welshpool, while the site just over the border in Oswestry is only six miles away.

Cllr Peter Lewington (Conservative) said: “Here in Newtown, we’re experiencing more and more fly tipping in our green spaces.

“Residents are regularly reporting rubbish being dumped in different parts of the town and their parkland.

“Indeed, the body that leases and manages 130 acres of town and county council parkland here is having to consider installing CCTV to identify the fly tippers.”

However, some who were initially sceptical about the booking system now support it.

Cllr Liz Rijnenberg (Labour) said: “There are different experiences across the county and the one I’ve had in Brecon is that it’s been very good and positive.

“Review is a key part of the process - it’s a basic standard in service delivery.”

She questioned why Cllrs Jenner and Davies had not approached the cabinet directly to learn about the upcoming review, instead of what she described as an “ineffectual use of council time” by bringing a motion to council about it.

Cabinet member for highways transport and recycling Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat) said: “Because we have the booking system in place we can do a review.

“We couldn’t do one before because we had no statistics or data and didn’t know what was happening in our sites.”

She added that enforcement action would be taken against people caught fly-tipping.

Cllr Jenner said: “There was a huge level of concern expressed by people at the outset and I think they would appreciate us discussing this openly.

“It’s important that we get a public assurance that the review will take place which we have had, and I would really appreciate a date for that.”

Cllr Charlton answered: “We are committed to doing the review in October”

The motion was put to a vote, with 32 councillors in favour, 12 against, and 11 abstentions.