Berriew Street benches proposal is canned

Welshpool Town Council has reacted to MyWelshpool readers’ angry reaction to their proposal to erect two benches in an empty shop doorway that is becoming synonymous with fly tipping.

A council services committee recommendation proposed that the council spends £400 on placing two benches and a bin on the privately owned Berriew Street property close to the Cross which had become a dumping ground (pictured).

But after last night’s full council meeting, Town Clerk, Robert Robinson, said: “The scheme was discussed by Councillors and they took into account, as the system allows, the viewpoints of the public and that of other agencies. The scheme has been withdrawn and the Council will seek other ways of solving the issue.”

Following the huge public backlash earlier in the week to our story, Mr. Robinson had told our readers in a Facebook comment: “Thank you for all your comments, I will ensure that the Councillors are aware of the feelings on this issue when they discuss the matter tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.”

A meeting had previously been held with the owner which Mr. Robinson reported was “a very pleasant and helpful meeting”.

“It is clear that much of the fly tipping outside the shop is done by others not associated with that property,” he said.

Given the regularity of the fly tipping, several of our readers have called for CCTV to specifically cover that area with a no-compromise attitude towards offenders.