‘No plans to house asylum seekers in Welshpool, currently’

Powys County Council has responded to social media chatter this week that a prominent Welshpool building was being considered to house asylum seekers.

Earlier this week, the authority responded to a similar situation in Brecon and this morning they have made the current position clear after rumours were circulated that the former Tax Office building on Severn Road, which is being converted into flats by a private developer, was being considered.

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “We are not aware of plans by the Home Office agent, Clearsprings, to house asylum seekers in Welshpool or in Powys currently.”

We have also contacted Clearsprings for comment.

Earlier this week, Powys County Council slammed online “misinformation” that a council building in Brecon was being used to house asylum seekers.

The council flatly denied that Neuadd Brycheiniog was being used to house asylum seekers after rumours were spread online.

The county council said: “We’re aware of false rumours circulating online suggesting that Neuadd Brycheiniog in Brecon is being used to house asylum seekers. We want to be absolutely clear: these claims are completely untrue. Neuadd Brycheiniog will not be used for this purpose.

“We urge residents to be cautious about what they read on social media.”