POWYS residents who want to use household waste and recycling facilities in Monmouthshire, could do so, if they are willing to pay.

Research by Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) showed that 15 per-cent of people using their facilities came from outside the authority. This cost an estimated £180,000.

Following this information MCC introduced a resident permit scheme, stopping people from Powys and elsewhere  using the sites.

This has caused problems for PCC councillors living close to the border with Monmouthshire, who are receiving complaints from constituents about the changes.

At the last PCC full council meeting on July 11  Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat – Llangattock) highlighted the issues faced by people in her ward and nearby Crickhowell.

They now face journeys of up to 50 miles to use facilities in Brecon when those in Abergavenny and Llanfoist are far closer and more convenient.

Cllr Charlton said: “Residents of Llangattock and Crickhowell are constantly asking why they cannot use the waste recycling centre in Abergavenny?

“Which would be much easier, sustainable and makes perfect sense.”

Highways, assets and recycling portfolio holder, Phyl Davies (Conservative – Blaen Hafren), told councillors that  “discussions are underway” to potentially allow Powys residents the use of the site in Abergavenny.

But he warned that it would have to be paid for by the people wanting to use the facilities and not PCC.

A spokesperson for Monmouthshire County Council said: “We introduced a resident permit scheme to protect services for Monmouthshire residents.

“In 2018 before the decision was made, we looked at where the waste was coming from at our household waste and recycling centres.

“Following engagement at our sites it emerged that 15 per cent of people surveyed provided out of county post codes.

“This equates to 3,000 tonnes of waste and recycling and treatment of the waste costs on average £60 per tonne.

“Without the introduction of permits this could have led to additional strain on our ever decreasing budgets.”

The spokesperson added: “We would support centralised provision of household waste recycling centres for all residents if funding and recycling targets could be adapted to make this possible at a local level.

“We would be happy for residents living near to the borders to pay to dispose of their waste at our sites . This option is already available to traders and small businesses.”