I had a word with the girl at the local archives this morning and she explained to me that most libararies and archives have Ancestry but not all of them have Find my Past, she wasn't sure about the charging - all we could say between us that it is free in Powys.
So, I hope I haven't misled any of you, it wasn't intentional. Let me know if you do find that either of them offer a free service. I wonder if it is all to do with council funding.