Council approves plans for library to become offices

Powys County Council Planning Committee has granted permission to turn Welshpool Library into office space once the new library is opened.

Gareth Richards, of PCC property services, said: “With the decision of the library service to co-locate with the museum, the building will become redundant and we want to make use of that for office space.

“With the potential future closure of Neuadd Maldwyn we need to find space to provide an office and front facing service to Welshpool.

“It will allow us to keep staff in Welshpool and we will not need to move them to other towns.

Councillors at the planning committee meeting on Thursday sympathised with opponents of the decision to move the library to Powysland Museum but said that they had to base their decision on the planning application in front of them.”

Cllr Francesca Jump (Liberal Democrat – Welshpool Gungrog), who spoke against the application, asked the committee if it could defer the application. This was to allow for more time for consultation.

Cllr Jump said: “Many Welshpool residents consider that no consultation took place and their views were not considered.

“A Save Welshpool Library campaign was set up and 4,000 people signed a petition, later 300 plus residents including Russell George (Montgomeryshire AM) marched in protest against the decision.

“A public meeting was requested but the cabinet declined to attend.”

Cllr Phil Pritchard (Independdent- Welshpool Castle) “totally disagreed” with Cllr Jump.

He said: “We’re not here to discuss whether the museum and library should be co-located, it’s the change of use for this building.”

“This is smack bang in the middle of town, the people of Welshpool want access to services from Powys County Council it’s an ideal building.”

Cllr Pritchard said that he was ready to move the motion.

Planning development manager, Peter Morris, said: “The debate around what the alternative provision is and whether it’s appropriate or not, has to happen outside this application.”

The committee voted unanimously to support the application for change of use.

 By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter