Latest news with #WelshpoolTownCouncil
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Welshpool Town Council launches public consultation
Welshpool Town Council has launched a public consultation to shape its Interim Strategic Plan. The plan covers the period from 2025 to 2028. The council is asking residents for their views on services it provides, including the Town Hall, public toilets, and Meals on Wheels. The consultation is also looking at how these services are funded, whether they provide value for money, and what the council should focus on improving or investing in for the future. This move is part of the council's efforts to plan amid rising costs, limited income, and the possibility of taking on more responsibilities from Powys County Council. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and is open until August 31, 2025. The feedback received will directly influence the new Interim Strategic Plan, which is due to be finalised and adopted at the end of September.
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Powys parking charges will 'kill the town' says councillor
Welshpool Town Council has criticised new car parking charges being introduced to Powys, with one member saying it will 'kill the town'. At a full council meeting on July 23, Welshpool councillors raised issues they had with planned car parking charges being introduced to the town as part of changes following Powys Council's car parking review. Cllr Sally Fitzgerald said: 'This has upset an awful lot of people. It's going to kill the town. Local business owners are really worried about charges going up. 'There's not enough footfall in town as it is and this would be detrimental to the town as residents would rather go somewhere like Oswestry other than Welshpool. I really don't understand why Powys are doing this because it's not good." Welshpool mayor Cllr Phil Owen added: 'How in the name of all that's reasonable can Powys apply blanket parking charges to an area the size of this with a sparsely populated area with a lot of rural inhabitants coming into town without adequate transport. 'We're diverse in terms of people's income, their daily usage of the car park and their basic transport facilities. How are we the same as someone in an area with an entirely different economy to ours. It's insane.' Councillors also considered the issue a problem in tackling illegal parking, driving footfall to the town and inconveniencing people who work and volunteer in Welshpool on a regular basis. 'Powys Council are out for every penny they can get with car parks' said Cllr Alison Davies. 'Look at the 10k event. Last year it was a real problem as they couldn't get everyone to pay because the machines were so slow. 'It's a real problem on the town and on everyone who's employed but also look at volunteers in charity shops, which we have plenty of. Consider the cost for transport and cost of parking for someone doing that.' Cllr David France also criticised the charges in addition to changes to parking for Blue Badge holders, who will also need to purchase a pay and display ticket in council car parks. He said: 'We'd all like car parks to be free, while we know money has to come from somewhere, another part that bothers me is the council now asking for disabled people to pay for parking. 'I understand that money will have to come from somewhere but don't make it off the backs of disabled and vulnerable people.'
Powys County Times
23-07-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
See the winners from the 2025 Welshpool Community Awards
Welshpool Town Council recognised several volunteers for their work serving the community at the 2025 Welshpool Community Awards. The town council announced the winners of the community awards as part of a special ceremony at Welshpool Town Hall on Sunday, July 20, with the winners accepted their awards from the Mayor of Welshpool, Cllr Phil Owen and Deputy Mayor of Welshpool. These awards, nominated by the public, aim to recognise individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the community, with the winners at the 2025 ceremony including volunteers who provided food and transport to Welshpool residents, a group that manage a garden space in Powis Castle and some anonymous crafters who add a bit of colour to Welshpool's High Street. Mayor of Welshpool, Cllr Phil Owen said: 'The Welshpool Community Awards highlight the incredible generosity, creativity, and resilience that make our town so special.' 'Each of this year's recipients has made a lasting difference to the lives of others, often quietly and without expectation of recognition.' 'On behalf of the Town, I offer our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to them all.' Among the winners of the 2025 community awards were Ann Watt and Sonia Wyatt, volunteers at Meals on Wheels who have been delivering meals to the community in all weathers. Dr Tony Harvey and Dr Revd Roger Brown were also recognised by the awards for their longstanding service to Welshpool. The Welshpool post-box topper creators, a group of anonymous crafters who create knitted decorations for the top of a post-box on Broad Street were also awarded for 'cheering up many people in the community with their wonderful and colourful creations'. Another group awarded was the Community Transport Scheme, as during 2024-2025, the volunteers gave 1,220 hours of their own time, completing 453 journeys that covered 16,042 miles. Describing the transport scheme's efforts, Cllr Owen added: 'The drivers are incredibly kind, compassionate, attentive and always prioritise the safety and comfort of their passengers. ' Ponthafren Powis Castle Garden Group received the Highly Commended Certificate, recognising the efforts of the group made up of five volunteers who manage a garden space, hidden away in the grounds of Powis Castle. The group meet weekly and work hard to look after the garden, grow food an support each other.
Powys County Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Food from around the world on offer at Powys town market
As Welshpool's Continental Market returned for another year, we visited the Powys town's high street to sample some of what was on offer. Returning for the third year after successful setups in the town for 2023 and 2024, Welshpool High Street was lined with stalls and vendors offering a range of international cuisine over the weekend of July 6 and July 5. Walking down the street I could say that the layout of the market was very accessible and welcoming, pedestrianizing the high street for the weekend and freeing up the full space of Welshpool town centre for stalls and people. The town hall was also open to offer free seating. The event was organised by Market Place Europe, who specialise in arranging large scale markets across towns throughout the continent, alongside Welshpool Town Council. Obviously, with dozens of vendors at the market, it was impossible to get round all of them, but that goes to show such a wide variety and wealth of options lined up on just a single Powys town's high street. Picking at random, I settled on a Greek stall making gyros. When asked if I wanted one with everything on it I said yes, not realising that was going to be taken literally. The result was a little unwieldy but absolutely delicious, complete with excellent tzatziki. It's worth saying that other stalls with food from across the globe, from India and China to Mexico and Belgium, were all looking at a steady stream of customers. The prices at each stall varied, and while it could be seen as a bit much for some afternoon lunch, most were no higher than your average takeaway. Though going back for multiple rounds or buying for multiple people may add up, but quality wise it's safe to say the food itself was to a high standard. Going back in for dessert I sampled some churros at one stall and some Portuguese tarts at another, both being very tasty. The atmosphere and crowds added to the afternoon as well, with a bustling high street offering plenty of places to sit down and enjoy any food ordered but also being close enough to stay in the busy and lively environment of a full town high street.
Powys County Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Could Welshpool 1940s Weekend carry on after 2025?
The organiser of Welshpool's 1940s Weekend has said that fundraising efforts have taken a 'massive hit' in the build up to this year's event. The annual 1940s Weekend held in Welshpool is going through a tumultuous period, as organiser Alan Crowe has said that the 'depleted' committee behind the event have been put under 'strain' to raise enough money. Mr Crowe said that the committee has had 'no responses' from letters personally addressed to business owners in the town centre asking for sponsorships for the weekend event, which he said costs over £20,000 to stage. The issues prompted concerns at a recent town council meeting that the 2025 version of the 1940s Weekend would be the last, though Mr Crowe added that he would 'sincerely hope it carries on for more years to come'. He said: 'At present the focus is on delivering this year's event. 'We have a depleted committee and are seeking more members or volunteers to assist with fundraisers or on the actual weekend. 'It takes over £20,000 to stage the weekend and with some support from Welshpool Town Council and the occasional small grant we have to raise the monies ourselves, which takes up most of our time which should be used making the show better. 'Local businesses are asked to support the event. Obviously not every business will benefit directly but if it's good for the town then it's good for everyone. 'As one former business person said after last year's event: 'there was more people in the town centre on the Saturday than all of the other Saturdays in the year added together'. 'I sincerely hope that it carries on for more years even if someone else takes over the helm. The town needs events like this to boost the economy but they also need funding and the support of businesses and the wider community.' Mr Crowe added that he is 'constantly' looking for any possible fundraising grants, but as many are aimed at specific social events the Welshpool 1940s Weekend 'sadly doesn't fit the criteria in the majority of cases". He also added that the event regularly turns down offers from outside catering 'so that the local establishments can reap the rewards', but said that the possibility of outside vendors 'might be something that we will need to relook at for the future". He added: 'From the outset of starting the event 10 years ago the focus has been on delivering a top event to give the town centre a much needed boost.' The 2025 Welshpool 1940s Weekend is scheduled to be held from September 26 to September 28.
