New skatepark ‘needs planning permission’

Welshpool Town Council said it is still moving ahead with plans for a new skatepark in the town, but it has been ‘complicated’ by the need for it to go through the official planning process.

Creating the new facility is a priority for the Town Council following the closure of the previous one four years ago.

Plans have been drawn up in consultation with the town’s youth by specialist firm Canvas, but at this week’s full council meeting a spanner-in-the-works was revealed.

In an update brief, councillors were told: “We need planning permission and that’s looking like it could be a little more complicated. It’s still moving forward so there’s nothing wrong, but because we are on a different site it means we need planning permission.”

There is no official timeline to have the new park in place at Maesydre, but the administration is believed to be keen to have it open by spring 2025. No potential costings have been publicly shared on the project to date.

The new location is where the former tennis courts were once found, but is now used as a car park. Planning permission is normally given by Powys County Council, and it allows an opportunity for the public to comment on the plans.