Welshpool's £50k bid to reopen Motte & Bailey for all
The Motte and Bailey site opposite Tesco has become a thorn in the town’s side after years of neglect have seen it fall into a sorry state, with thousands of pounds spent last year alone to fix vandalism (pictured) and also to erect safety fencing and netting to stop people getting in.
The Town Council secured the historical site from landowners, Powis Estates, on a long lease over 15 years ago to make it a tourist attraction. But it failed, despite an initial £25,000 grant during the time that Tesco was being constructed across the road.
There have been numerous debates and arguments since as to what to do with the site with the Town Council, and ultimately the Welshpool tax payers, responsible for its upkeep until it can be handed back in 2038 when the lease expires.
There was even an offer last year from the Welsh Bikers for Suicide Prevention to take it on and maintain it, but stiff opposition from some quarters on the Town Council saw the decision delayed, with the charity opting for Newtown instead where it has since flourished.
But it is back on the table and at last night’s Operations & Development Committee meeting, Town Clerk, Richard Williams, provided an update after a working group had been set up.
In summary, he briefed councillors that a £50,000 bid had been submitted to the Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme for funding to turn the site into a green space that would benefit the whole community.
“It would help to open up the space, taking into account the comments that we received during the town consultation in the summer with people wanting to see it used for something,” he said. “The funding allows us to look at the regeneration of green spaces so that is the route that we have gone down.”
Mr Williams said that the Working Group discussed the general aspirations for the site, including opening up the space, improving its appearance and accessibility, and exploring ways in which the natural ‘bowl’ area might support outdoor events.
Ideas, he said, included a permanent or semi-permanent stage, vegetation and tree clearance, interpretation boards and general environmental improvements to make the area “more usable by the public”.
Several councillors wanted the Welsh Bikers for Suicide Prevention to be approached again to see if they were still interested, but there was a view that should the grant be successful, then the preferred route would be to make it a place open to all.
If successful, the work would need to be completed by November 2026.
Councillors also conceded that major funding would be required at a later date to fix the buildings on the site.
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