Welshpool Town Council deal could save the town 'tens of thousands' of pounds

Ahead of a raft of expected cuts from Powys County Council next year, Welshpool Town Council, which has been proactive in saving services in the town in recent years, wants to take more key things off the local authority.

At a meeting last week, the town council had a statement detailing its bid after it was revealed the local authority wanted to move the town's busy library to the museum, in a bid to free up office space.

The news was met with anger by library users, who launched a petition against the move.

Now the town council is waiting for a decision on a deal that could see them take over the museum, library, canal wharf, canal basin and the town's youth centre.

Tens of thousands of pounds

Mayor councillor Steve Kaye has claimed it would save the county council tens of thousands of pounds.

He said: "This council has always been proactive in keeping and saving services.

"We have taken the day centre, street cleaning and other things, and in a survey in 2016 the residents told us what they wanted to see saved, if the county council cut them.

"We put a deal to them in July, there has been a meeting and there is a meeting again in the next few weeks.

"In the past we have taken the toilets on, the council ran them for £85,000 a year, we run them at £28,000.

"This is a deal that would save the council tens of thousands of pounds."

Councillor Kaye believes more harder cuts are on the way next year, with the financial pressures mounting on the county council.

He added: "The chief executive Mohammed Mehmet came in and has had to cut things, he has cut from the top as well as the bottom.

"Cabinets have backed down and not made the the cuts."