Housing association makes Oldford pledge

There appears to be progress made in renovating and developing play facilities at Oldford following a pledge made by the housing association responsible for Welshpool’s largest estate.

At last night’s Full Welshpool Town Council meeting, a senior representative for ClwydAlyn said that the housing association was keen to work with the local authority following years of residents campaigning for better facilities, led on the council by Cllr Phil Pritchard.

For some time now, Cllr Pritchard has highlighted the lack of play facilities on the estate, saying that while others have been maintained and developed across the town, Oldford has been left behind.

Brendan McWhinnie, a senior official from Clwyd Alyn and a former Welshpool town councillor of five years, gave a presentation to the local authority to reassure residents that they were serious about developing the site.

He said that they were keen to work alongside Welshpool Town Council to look at funding available that can be invested.

“It is important to investigate opportunities for partnership working with Welshpool Town Council,” he said.

“We are committed to whatever we can collectively discuss and work together in terms of existing provision and what you would like to see and what members of the community would like to do.”

Mr McWhinnie said that the all-weather playing surface, which had proved extremely popular over many years, was one area to refurbish, while he also said that a new play facility as well as the possibility of allotments were also areas to be looked at.

The Town Council has agreed to continue working with Clwyd Alyn to develop the project, with regular updates provided at full council meetings to ensure progress is made.