Visitor site plan for castle remains

Welshpool's historic motte and bailey castle remains are set to become a new visitor attraction for the town if a £110,000 scheme goes ahead.

The ancient remains sit next to the former railway sidings where mainline trains once met with the area's narrow gauge line.

Now the town council and Powys County Council want to transform the area to celebrate its railway history.

A tea room and shop - possibly in a railway carriage - could be part of the refurbishment of the site.

Funding for the site, which sits between the bypass and Smithfield Road, has already been found from grant aid and money as part of the development of the old livestock market.

A scheme has now been put forward which will refurbish the motte bailey, particularly the walls and also the railway docks alongside.

The clubhouse, part of the bowling club and crown green which is on the ruins, would also be refurbished.

Town councillors have also been told that the idea is to provide a tearoom and gift shop, forming a small visitor centre and install a train on the site which would link with the area's historic and form a gateway to Welshpool.

Town clerk Robert Robinson said he envisaged the tearoom and gift shop would be open on certain days only, and could be run by members of the bowling club.

"It could provide some income for the club and would mean there would be someone on site when it was open to the public," he said.