Guilsfield set to disappear?

Guilsfield will “strongly object” to proposals to merge the village with a Welshpool ward in a bid to reduce the number of Powys County Councillors by 15 per cent.

Despite being the county’s largest village with 1,395 registered voters, Guilsfield has been targeted in the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales review to merge with the Welshpool Gungrog Ward for future County Council elections.

It would mean that a Welshpool County Councillor would represent the village; not an ideal scenario according to its community council and Welshpool Town Council.

“If such proposals were taken forward then Guilsfield, the largest village in Powys, could lose its identity completely and all ability to influence its own destiny,” said Cllr Glynne Turner, Chairman of Guilsfield Community Council. “Such proposals are undemocratic and could lead to greater apathy towards local democracy. If there is a need to combine, it should be with another rural area and not a Welshpool ward so we have unanimously objected to these proposals.”

Cllr Turner’s concerns are shared by Welshpool Town Clerk, Robert Robinson.

He said: “We support Guilsfield in objecting to this proposal. Towns have different needs and issues than villages so it simply would not work by merging them with the Gungrog Ward.”

A decision will be made by the Welsh Assembly later in the year.