Town gets tough over Church Street

Welshpool Town Council is to demand an urgent meeting with Powys County Council over plans to close Church Street for five days.

The council last night (Wednesday) voted to call for the urgent meeting after hearing that Welshpool Business Forum calls for a delay to the scheme had been turned down by Powys County Council.

The road is set to close from May 18-22, the week leading up to May Bank Holiday when traffics volumes are considerably greater in Welshpool.

North & Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent Andrew Jones replied to the request by saying there was nothing that could be done to delay the essential work to remove a substation from the roof of a premises in Church Street and carry out cabling.

He said Scottish Power had considered all other alternatives and were working closely with the council to minimise any disruption.

"Rest assured that everyone will do all in their powers to get off the road and reopen it as soon as possible," he said.

Councillor Philip Pritchard said he was "disgusted" with the response. "It is unacceptable and we must insist that Mr Jones comes to meet this council," he said.

"The people of Welshpool have not been considered and Welshpool Town Council has not been consulted. If necessary we must be prepared to take action to prevent this road closure."

Councillor Graham Breeze said he feared the town faced a week of chaos. "Welshpool will be gridlocked with all traffic forced to go via the Welshpool Railways Station roundabout. There will be queues to Trewern and up the bypass in the other direction," he said.

"Red Bank is already being used as a rat run with traffic racing past Ardwyn School. Now everyone from the Guilsfield direction will be following this route to avoid the town centre."

Councillor John Corfield said people were already avoiding Welshpool and this closure at such a busy time would turn people away for good.