Welshpool Town Council has handed back the responsibly of cleaning the town's streets after running the services at a loss.

From Wednesday, July 1, Powys County Council will revert to emptying the bins in the car parks, main streets and central areas of the town. It will also be responsible for fly tipping, grass cutting verges and some open spaces and weeding in verges and highways within the Welshpool 30mph limit. This has also resulted in two town council staff being made redundant.

WTC said that the decision was made due to the high costs to the town council and the minimal grant given to them by PCC. It said that the grant could not be lifted to a "financially viably level" due to PPC's financial constraints.

WTC were the only council who accepted the offer to take over a street scene contract when offered out by Powys CC about three years ago.

To the town council the service has been running at a loss since it was taken over by them. WTC was given a grant of £17,800 annually from PCC and without the majority of the salary costs included the cost of running the service for the 2019/2020 financial year was £41,641 (although this excludes some generic costs e.g. maintenance of equipment accounted for through other outdoor and recreation budgets). The council did receive a small grant from the Burgess Land Trust which is in the accounts reducing the costs by £6,000. However, a spokesperson from the council said that it is "not sure the current time whether this grant should have been made and may have to be repaid".

"The town council outdoor staff will continue to concentrate on all their open spaces, play areas and sports pitches as well as the day to day work on and in the town council buildings," a spokesperson said.