Tell us what you think Welshpool

Welshpool Town Council is inviting the town’s residents to help shape its future with a mass consultation exercise launched.

The Council is seeking views on everything from Dog Control to Public Toilets and also inviting ideas and suggestions on events and initiatives for the town to adopt.

Brochures will drop through every letterbox in the coming weeks and there will be open days held in Belan School on February 27 from 7pm, St John’s Church, Pool Quay on March 3 from 7pm and the Corn Exchange, Town Hall on March 11 from 9am-6.30pm.

The consultation as a whole will continue through to March 23 with participation also allowed through www.welshpoolcommunityplan.org.uk. It is open to anyone who either lives in the Welshpool area or visits the town regularly.

“This is not the Town Plan which was reviewed in 2012, but a Community Plan which will set the programme for the Council over the next few years,” said Town Clerk, Robert Robinson.

So have your say on the following:

1. OUTER PARK

Details: The outer park is situated at the end of Park Lane (off the High Street) and is leased by the Town Council from Powis Estates to allow public access.

Proposed policy: The Town Council is to seek to improve the outer park to provide more benches, wildlife enhancements and other family related facilities.

2. ALLOTMENTS

Details: The Council has, along with others, been seeking to secure allotments for the Town. Two sites have been identified and will come online early in the New Year.  The sites are located on the Burgess Lands Red Bank and also at the Hospital.

Proposed policy: The Town Council is developing two sites that should come forward for use over the next few months and will continue when the opportunity arises to seek further sites as the need arises.

3. DOG CONTROL

Details: The Town has suffered recently with dog owners not clearing up after their animals. A Dog Control Order has been introduced on areas where it is inappropriate to have dogs and more doggy bins have been provided where dog walking can take place. A Dog Committee has been set up involving Councillors and interested parties to take forward education, events and other dog related matters.

Proposed policy: The Town Council will continue to monitor the dog free areas, and provide where it can further facilities for dog owners and to support responsible dog ownership.

4. TENNIS COURTS

Details: The Town Council provides many recreational facilities for the Town including football, rugby and cricket pitches, bowling greens, skateboard park, all weather mini pitch, Memorial Garden, playgrounds, country park and supports the youth provision of such activities. The Council also has a partnership arrangement at the Armoury providing   excellent gym and recreational facilities.

Proposed policy: The Town Council is seeking to continue to provide the services above and will seek, when the opportunity arises, to provide a tennis court facility.

5. COUNTRY PARK

Details: The provision of a small country park with adventure playground, picnic benches and  bins has been completed.  The Town Council wishes to develop the area further in association with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

Proposed policy: To Council is to seek to provide wildlife habitats, a bird hide and educational gazebo to enhance the facilities at the new Country Park. 

6. PUBLIC TOILET PROVISION

Details: The Town Council adopted the public toilets in September 2013 following the decision by the County Council to close all public toilets provided by them. The Town Council sees this service as very important to the Town and its economic base.

Proposed policy: The Town Council is seeking to continue to provide public toilets in the Town Centre at a cost to the taxpayer of approx £15,000pa. 

7. TOURISM & TOURIST INFORMATION

Details: The Town Council adopted the Tourist Information in 2009 when the County Council took the decision to close all Tourist Information Offices administered by them. Town Council sees this service, and tourism generally, as very important to the Town and its economic base.

Proposed policies: a) The Town Council proposed to provide a full Tourist Information Service in Welshpool, expanding its activities to ensure it has a ‘local community base’ as well. b) The Town Council will set up a new Welshpool and Distrcit Tourism Web Site and also produce annual publications for events and tourists visiting. c) The Town Council will seek to attract a Tourist attraction to the Town Centre when the opportunity arises. Perhaps a large sculpture or similar. d) The Town Council would support the introduction of this attraction working in partnership with the Friends of the Montgomeryshire Canal.

8. MOTTE AND BAILEY PROJECT

Details: The Town Council has been working with Powys County Council to provide better car parking and access, walkways around the castle, protection of the Victoria Crown Greens, refurbishment of the WLLR railway docks, refurbishment of the railway hut, planting in the grassed area and interpretation and information boards. The site is now leased to the Town Council so that the project can proceed with funding from the Tesco Development and European Severn Valley Funds.

Proposed policy: The Town Council (in partnership with others) is seeking to develop the Motte and Bailey Site as described above.

9. TOWN ENVIRONMENT IN  WELSHPOOL

Details: There are many things that affect life in the Town Centre and the Council is aware that it has a role to play in making Welshpool a nice to place to live. This includes antisocial behaviour, drinking on the street and tidiness.

Policies: a) The Council proposes to host an annual 'keep Welshpool tidy' week with Keep Wales Tidy each year; b) To continue to improve the CCTV coverage in Welshpool and to continue to support the Police in any initiative to attack antisocial behavior; c) The Town Council is seeking to gain an order (DPPO) to restrict drinking on the main Town Centre streets and in other sensitive areas such as Ardwyn School, St Mary's Church, Playgrounds etc. 

10. SAFER CYCLE ROUTES

Details: There is a cycle route along the canal from Welshpool to Newtown. There is a need for a cycle route through the other direction to Pool Quay linking the Town Centre, recreation grounds and the High School.

Policy: The Council proposes to work with Powys County Council in the creation of a new cycle route as set out above.  The money has been allocated so that such a scheme can come to fruition.

11. TRAVEL

Details: The Council is aware of its role in representing the Town with regard to all aspects of transport within Welshpool and the outlying areas.

Policies: a) The Town Council will do all it can to seek to preserve such local bus services by lobbying the Principle Authorities. b) The Town Council is seeking to secure an hourly train service from Aberysytwyth to Shrewsbury as soon as possible; c) The Town Council is seeking to secure the enhanced facilities at the main line station including another waiting room shelter. d) The Council will aid the provision of bus maps at Town bus stops to provide information on where to catch buses and where they go.

12. PUBLIC SERVICES

Details: Under Welsh Government legislation adopted in 2011 there is a requirement for County and Town Councils to work together using a Charter as a base. The Council is also aware of the pending budget cuts by the County council and will see what it can do to reduce the effects of these on its community.

Policies: a) The Town Council will seek to enter a Charter setting out the working relationship between the two parties as soon as possible; b) The Town Council will seek to help with the retention of as many services as possible without putting undue pressure on the individual Council Tax payer in Welshpool. 

13. THE YOUTH

Details: The Town Council consults the Youth on regular occasions and involves the Junior, Infant and High Schools when looking at projects which affect them. The Council also works with the High School with regard to delivery of some projects such as the sculpture by the Tourist Information Centre.

Policy: The Council will continue with the Youth Council held at the High School and will continue to appoint two youth representatives to work closely with the Council.

14. CONSULTATIONS

Details: The Town Council is very aware of the need to consult with those in the Town. To this end the Town Council does host a monthly coffee morning and a Councillors’ surgery to seek views. The consultations not only extend to those things directly related   to the Town but also national consultations which would have policies that would affect the Town.

Proposed policy: The Town Council is seeking to continue with Councillors’ surgeries, Business Forums and the Youth Council as well as hosting public consultation events. The consultations   will include the Town Councils own activities as well as those involving the County Council, Welsh Assembly and Parliament.

16. PLAYGROUNDS AND OPEN SPACES

Details: The Council has invested in its playgrounds and open spaces over the last five years. There are new or refurbished playgrounds at DolyFelin, Maes y Dre, the Country Park (by the Flash), Brookfield Road and Little Henfaes Lane. There is a further playground due to be constructed in Brookfield Road during this year. Open space provision has increased and flower beds maintained.

Proposed Policy: a) The Council has provided good playgrounds in Welshpool and will complete the construction of the Junior Playground with football area during 2014 at Brookfield Road. The Council will also seek to maintain the playgrounds to a good standard. b) The Council will seek to provide extra public open space for the community in line with the 6-acre rule (6 acres of public recreation space per 1,000 population) by either directly taking over land or securing same through the Planning system.