Town Council taking legal action over library proposals

Welshpool Town Council is to make a legal challenge against Powys County Council over the future of the town’s library but will not help fund a proposed Judicial Review.

The Town Council has instructed solicitors to challenge why the library service was not offered to them under terms laid down in a Charter with Powys County Council.

But Town Councillors have voted 7-6 to reject a request from the Save Welshpool Library Group for £600 towards solicitors’ costs for starting a Judicial Review against Powys County Council’s decision to downsize the town’s library service.

Minutes of last week’s full Town Council meeting read:

“The Council resolved that to seek a better resolution to the issues solicitors are instructed to write to Powys County Council invoking clause 5.5 of the Charter which reads ‘Reduction or ceasing of services. Powys County Council will not cut any services in Welshpool without first giving Welshpool Town Council the opportunity to consider taking over such services’.

“If there is no meaningful response then a Court Injunction to be issued.

It is hoped that a round table meeting can be held between the Town Clerk and relevant officers of Powys County Council to look at other options.”

The Save Welshpool Library Group is believed to be pressing ahead with plans to demand a Judicial Review, claiming that Powys County Council has not completed proper consultation procedures over plans to move the town’s library into the Powysland Museum building.

Hundreds of people took part in a march opposing the move on Saturday morning.