Green light for £83k Welshpool Town Centre upgrade

Welshpool Town Council’s £83,000 Town Centre Improvement Project has reached a major milestone, with Full Council approving the programme of improvements and giving the go-ahead for the project to move into its delivery phase.

At its latest meeting, the Council approved the proposed locations and types of new and replacement street furniture, wayfinding, planting, lighting, bus stop signage, visitor information and other improvements planned across Welshpool town centre.

The decision follows several months of design development, site assessments, discussions with partner organisations and engagement with residents and businesses.

The project is supported by £83,000 from the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund and will deliver improvements across a number of areas of the town, including Broad Street, Church Street, Severn Road, Berriew Street, Vicarage Gardens, Hall Street, Ponthowell Gardens, the canal area and Lower Powis Park.

Proposals include new and replacement public seating and litter bins, improved pedestrian wayfinding, new planting and landscaping, cycle parking, improvements to public spaces, new information at bus stops and a proposed digital visitor information screen outside the Town Hall.

Importantly, many of the new bins and benches will replace existing ageing street furniture rather than simply adding additional items.

Following Full Council's approval, detailed designs and specifications can now be finalised and contractors appointed, allowing physical works to begin as the remaining permissions are received.

Town Clerk Richard Williams, said: “This is an important milestone for a project which will make a visible difference across Welshpool town centre.

“A lot of work has taken place behind the scenes to identify where improvements are most needed, listen to feedback and work through the practicalities with the different organisations responsible for our streets and public spaces.

“Because this is a capital funding programme, the focus is on lasting physical improvements to the town centre. The project brings together lots of individual changes which, collectively, should create a more welcoming, attractive and easier-to-navigate town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.

“We are now at the exciting stage where we can start turning those plans into physical improvements across the town.”

The Council expects improvements to be delivered progressively through the remainder of 2026 and into early 2027, with physical works scheduled for completion by the end of January.

Further updates, including details of individual improvements as they are installed, will be published throughout the delivery of the project.

The Welshpool Town Centre Improvement Project is supported by £83,000 of funding from the UK Government's Pride in Place Impact Fund.