Councillor breaks ranks over library

A Welshpool Town Councillor has broken ranks with his colleagues and is supporting a proposal for the library to be downgraded and moved in with the Powysland Museum.

Cllr Phil Pritchard, who is also a County Councillor, said that moving the library is the best option to ensure the service is not lost completely and it would save jobs.

But it goes against the stance of his Town Council who had previously boasted that opposition to the move was unanimously supported by the councillors. This was doubted by Powys County Council who also rejected the Town Council’s offer to manage the service in its current form.

Cllr Pritchard told The Shropshire Star: “I support the county council’s position because it is the best option to preserve jobs, and that is the most important thing. 

“By having the library and the museum, it will preserve jobs and it will keep services in Welshpool, which is what people want.

“The Powys plan will protect jobs, and there is no other format that will do that, and on that basis I am in favour of it.”

Powys County Council want to squeeze the library in with the museum to free up space for their office staff due to their Neuadd Maldwyn building being sold off next year.

It has been met with widespread opposition in the area with a petition containing more than 4,000 signatures handed over.

The authority is expected to discuss the matter and make a decision at a cabinet meeting next week.