‘Welshpool has been shortchanged’

Powys County Council’s decision yesterday not to cut day care services hasn’t gone down well in Welshpool, where its centre was taken on by the town council at great expense after being threatened with closure.

The Council's cabinet resolved to keep all day centres open until a full review has been undertaken. Extra money will now be made available in 2017/18 to allow day centre activity to continue in existing localities while an early intervention service is trialed and evaluated.

But it will be a hot topic at tonight’s Town Council meeting after Welshpool ‘pioneered’ an arrangement to adopt the town’s day care centre which was under threat of being axed.

It is costing the town’s tax payers £34,000 a year, according to the 2016 accounts, whilst a grant is also provided by the county council.

“Powys have already been alerted that we will be looking for 100% funding for the period that they fund the other centres,” town clerk Robert Robinson told us last night.

“It is not fair that Welshpool pays for something that they provide elsewhere. Welshpool Town Council was offered no more than anyone else at the time, it was just that no one else took the offer up.

“Also we entered into an agreement on the basis that the centre along with Crickhowell and Newtown were to close by March 31, 2016.

“I will be reporting to Council tomorrow.”

The council’s stay of execution will last through to March 2019 when possible cuts could come into play. However, there have also been calls for council tax to be raised to cover the rising costs of elderly care.

Last month we reported that a decision was taken to rename the town's Day Centre in memory of the late Cllr Ann Holloway.