Welshpool Town Council backs Oldford call for play park

Welshpool Town Council will back Oldford residents in their bid to secure a new play park for the town’s largest estate.

As we reported yesterday, the estate has been left without a suitable facility for several years following the demise of a community-funded facility that was created over 30 years ago.

But at last night’s Town Council Operations & Development Committee meeting, councillors shared the residents’ frustrations and demanded that action be taken by Powys County Council and ClwydAlyn who are responsible for the estate.

“This has gone on far, far too long,” said Committee Chair, Cllr Phil Pritchard, who has led the calls for a new play park for several years.

“Everybody from Powys County Council, ClwydAlyn and Town Council who are all involved have all agreed and said ‘yes, yes, yes’ but not a thing has happened.”

Former Mayor, Cllr Nick Howells, referred to a comment he posted on the MyWelshpool story’s Facebook post yesterday, saying he is “a hundred per cent behind the reinstatement of that playground. It desperately needs to be done”.

But he warned the council off from promising any financial commitment as he said the project should be the responsibility of Powys County Council and ClwydAlyn.

Cllr Sally Fitzgerald’s call for a high-level meeting between the two parties along with the Town Council, was unanimously supported by colleagues.

Town Clerk, Richard Williams, then reported that as a result of the MyWelshpool story, ClwydAlyn had already been in touch.

It was agreed that an initial meeting with the housing association be held, attended by Mr Williams and Cllr Pritchard, who will then report back to the full council for further action.