The chair of a community group has written to the Welsh Government over what he says is a "fundamental flaw" in the planning process for a new recycling centre.

Martin Aymes, who chairs the Cefn-y-Coed Community Group says there was a serious problem with the planning permission granted for the new facility on Abermule Business Park, and he's written to Secretary of State for Wales Lesley Griffiths in an effort to get the application called in.

A council planning committee narrowly approved the construction of a waste processing plant on the edge of Abermule, in a fiercely contested application which was decided by just one vote.

Mr Aymes believes an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) should have been carried out as part of the application due to the size of the development, and that an error from Powys County Council planners means they mistakenly thought the assessment was not required.

Planning regulations state that any development over a threshold of 0.5 hectares requires an environmental report if "significant effects on the environment are likely". The area under proposed development is 4.1 hectares.

"Llandyssil and Abermule Community Council raised a series of questions during the pre-application process, one of which was why the applicant hasn't included an EIA with it's pre-planning material," he said.

"The officer has misread and misquoted the applicable threshold and criteria in the regulations."

My Aymes says an Environmental Impact Assessment could have swung the vote on the application due to what he believes is the high environmental impact of the scheme.

"It's a 42ft building which is clearly visible from [nearby] Dolforwyn Castle - you won't have to look for it, it'll be right there in front of you," he added.

"Being built in clear view of the main road it will be visible from either direction and clearly has a high visual impact."

"I believe this is adequate to require the application to be called in as it may amount to mal-administration. The EIA must be provided in accordance with the regulations, and as this application is by the council it is particularly important the correct procedures are followed."

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Secretary of Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs said they had received Mr Aymes enquiry and would look into his concerns.

Powys County Council said they were not aware of any issues following last month's decision.