Powys County Council's Access to Services project, which has been implemented at the Gwalia in Llandrindod Wells, has experienced "teething problems" but when fully operational will be of "great benefit" to Llandrindod Wells and the surrounding area.

This is the view of County Councillor Michael Jones, yet impassioned councillors opposed to his view expressed their beliefs at a Radnorshire committee meeting earlier this week.

Cllrs Gary Price and Ken Harris questioned whether the new customer services facility was adhering to the original vision proposed by PCC.

It had agreed to the refurbishment of the Gwalia in January 2007.

Cllr Price, unhappy at a report adopted by the committee at its last meeting prior to Christmas to transform the historic Radnorshire chamber at the Gwalia into a "meet and greet" area where members of the public can come and talk to council staff, said: "I think the issue has been rushed along.

"We say we're putting staff and members of the public first but did members consider this when we moved the registrar's office upstairs?"

Cllr Ken Harris added: "We say we're looking at the public and the service to them but I don't think we are."

Cllr John Brunt, chair of the committee, who's deciding vote at the previous meeting, went in favour of adopting the changes, said the report had followed an acceptable procedure.

"The report was for information only, the shire has no jurisdiction.

"I do not wish to revisit the issue and feel it is completed."

He said if members were disgruntled the issue would have to go back before the county council.

Cllr David Peter said: "There needs to be some sort of mechanism in place for sensitive matters to be known to the shires concerned in order to avoid a repeat performance."

Cllr John Thompson made his feelings at the "unhappy outcome" known and said Radnorshire was getting a raw deal. "As long as I've got breath in my body I'm going to fight for Radnorshire interests, " he said.

"I do wonder what would happen if the same thing happened in Montgomeryshire.They wouldn't have stood for it and if they wanted something they would get it."

Councillors seemed confused as to who had ordered the report originally.

Cllr Richard Tyler, who sits on the Access to Services committee, said: "We were not considered on the Gwalia matter."

He sided with the report, and was unhappy with the rows over it.

"I'm disappointed it has turned into a criticism of the council instead of looking at the immense benefits.It's transforming the council and providing the public with a service they require.

"Out of all the shires we have the Rolls Royce of facilities."

Cllr Jones concurred.

"The chamber at the Gwalia was vacated by this committee, that's a fact, we've not had meetings there for some time."