ON THURSDAY,  October 18, Powys residents will have their opportunity to quiz the council's cabinet over a number of issues that have caused consternation in the county.

As part of the full council meeting, the public will be given 20 minutes to ask questions.

This time there are five questions scheduled to be heard.

They touch on the changes being mooted for Welshpool Library, a Welsh Medium Secondary School  for North Powys,  school bus safety measures and asset transfers to a town council.

Also on the agenda is a question on the proposed Abermule recycling facility and fire safety.

The questions are:

Richard Spanswick - will be asking the Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture: (Cllr Rachel Powell) : "Given that Welshpool has an excellent, purpose-built, easily accessible, and well used library at its Brook Street site, would the council please confirm that it will prioritise the needs of the community above the desire to relocate council office accommodation from neuadd maldwyn to the library building at the same time as reducing library stock and amenities, and safeguard this facility for future public use?

A campaign with an online petition has started in Welshpool in a bid to stop the library being relocated at Powysland museum.

The second question will be asked by Buddug Bates and will be to Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, the cabinet member for Learning and Welsh Language:

She asks: "Can the member with responsibility for the Education portfolio please confirm, when it is likely that a new North Powys category 2a high school is likely to open?

Cllr Myfanwy Alexander will also need to answer the third question which will be by Heidi Wilson who asks: "In light of the recent re-tendering exercise of all Home-to School transport arrangements, can the council please reassure me and other parents whose children use the x48 local bus (Llanddewi to Builth Wells) that a full risk assessment has been carried out and that the council are satisfied that in the event of a road traffic incident, sufficient safety measures are in place to protect our children as far as is possible on this dangerous stretch of road? I ask this particularly in relation to those pupils who have to stand whilst using the service.

The final two questions  will be for Cllr Phyl Davies, portfolio holder for Highways , Recycling an Assets, to answer.

The first question will be from Trudy Stedman: "During the recent meet the council event in Hay-on-Wye, several resident asked about issues in relation to the transfer of assets from Powys County Council to Hay Town Council as this has been under discussion for three years.

"I would be grateful if the cabinet member could please advise on when the cabinet discussions in relation to asset transfers in Hay are likely to take place and a potential timescale for completion so that this information can be made available to Hay residents."

The last question is about the Abermule Recycling Facility, and protestors against the project are planning to picket County Hall in Llandrindod Wells ahead of the meeting.

The question to Cllr Davies, comes from Jane Rees: "Given reports confirm that 300 fires a year occur in recycling plans throughout the UK, how satisfied are Powys County Council that in the event of a major incident at the planned recycling plant in Abermule the economy of Mid Wales will not be paralysed by the closure of the A483 trunk road and Cambrian Rail Line?

Such a fire in a building wedge between two arterial routes and with a cubic capacity of 18545metres, will be left to burn out for several days.

"This will have a catastrophic effect on this sensitive environment and result in a long period of disruption.

"The noxious gasses known to issue from burning plastic will require urgent evacuation of residents in the nearby village.

"In view of (this) the above, the council should be considering other more suitable locations?"

The meeting takes place at the Council Chamber, Llandrindod Wells, on Thursday, starting at 10.30am.

Picture - Llandrindod Wells County Hall