The process which led to Welshpool implementing a one-way system will be scrutinised as part of a probe into the much maligned road system.
The Scrutiny Panel, led by County Councillor David Jones, is to question officers from Powys Highways as well as the Trunk Road Agency to ascertain how the current system was determined and why it appears to have gone wrong.
The panel will revert back to the full council with recommendations following its extensive review which Cllr Jones says will engage all sectors of local society.
“The main issue will be to decide whether the existing system can be improved or is not fit for purpose. Everything will flow from that decision,” said Cllr Jones. “We plan to ask members of the public to attend separate meetings too so that everyone will be able to give us their views. We are getting a lot of views already from the public. There is no doubt that the review is causing interest.”
A popular petition has been handed in already calling for changes to be made including the Back Road reverting to two-way traffic. Welshpool Town Council, which has generally championed the one-way system, has also expressed its concerns of late and handed in their own 12-point document.
Mywelshpool says:
It appears that the days are numbered for the one-way system in its current format. Cllr Jones wrote in his village newsletter that it was obviously not working in the way that planners had hoped and today’s comments point towards a likely recommendation for change(s). Quite what that change(s) will be remains to be seen but town centre businesses, motorists as well as concerned pedestrians will hope that it will come sooner rather than later.