Could Town Council take on the library?

Welshpool Town Council is set to meet with Powys County Council to present a proposal that, it believes, can prevent the library being downgraded to share floor space at Powysland Museum.

Since the story was broken in September, the town has united in protest and a petition has received well over 1,000 signatures both online and in print so far.

Welshpool Town Council broke its silence on the issue at last night’s full meeting by making its position clear and supporting public opinion.

But rather than just criticise the move, the council said it is in a position to propose a solution that would protect the services as well as provide the required financial savings.

The town has already stepped in over the past five years to adopt a number of cash-strapped Powys County Council services, including the Street Scene, Tourist Information Centre, public toilets, playgrounds, day centres and meals on wheels.

But it has come at a cost to the Welshpool council tax payer who saw a considerable rise in their town council tax precept this year.

“The Town Council conducted a survey in 2016 which asked the question about taking over further services seeking a public view on what should be done,” said a Town Council statement this afternoon. “This included the cost of each service to the tax payer.

“It was clear from the survey that the residents of Welshpool wish to see services protected and that includes the library.

“The Town Council has been in discussions since May with the County Council and on June 6, 2018, put a proposal involving the museum, library, canal wharf, canal basin and youth centre.

“A further meeting was held with the County Council in July (when the idea of the library and the museum was mooted) putting forward a full proposal with costings to aid both protecting the services and at the same time saving the money that Powys needed to achieve.

“The Town Council is meeting again with Powys County Council in the next few weeks with a view to taking forward a scheme which is good for Welshpool, good for protecting services and good for Powys.

“The Town Council supports residents in their view for a good library service in Welshpool.”

Powys wants to downsize and move the library so that staff from its Neuadd Maldwyn office can be relocated there, allowing that building to be sold.