Town council fighting local authority over library relocation

Powys County Council is to imminently move Welshpool's library from its current building in with the town's Powysland Museum in a bid to save funds.

However after a protest attracted hundreds of people, the town council isn't going away without a fight.

They have said that in a charter between themselves and Powys Council, there is a clause that says: "PCC will not cut any services in Welshpool without first giving Welshpool Town Council the opportunity to consider taking over such services."

At the latest meeting, the town council voted to have a solicitor write to the county council invoking the clause, including a court injunction of their is no meaningful response.

A statement from the town council said: “The county council has not offered either service to the town council

“It is hoped that PCC will meet with the town council for meaningful discussions about alternatives to the current proposals.”

Despite the council raising the charter, it expired in 2018.

In another twist, the town clerk Robert Robinson said that the council has an email from PCC solicitor Clive Pinney confirming it remains in place until a new one is agreed.

Two previous plans were tabled by the town council but the local authority chose not to take up on them.

A campaign is underway to raise money for a potentially legal fight, but the town council narrowly voted against putting money towards it.

In a response to the claims over the charter, cabinet member for assets, Councillor Phyl Davies, said: “The clause in the charter says the county council will not cut any service without giving the town council the opportunity to consider taking them over. The county council has been very clear throughout this process that co-location of the library and museum is intended to safeguard both services in the town.

“We know the decision is disappointing to many but we hope that service users and residents understand that we have to make the very best use of precious resources and that meant taking difficult decisions.

“The financial pressures facing us meant that the status quo was not viable and we believe that, having considered all options, co-location is the best option to maintain services and make the best use of the county council’s property.”