Town centre officer appointed to help Welshpool prosper

A new town centre liaison officer has been appointed by Powys County Council to support economic development in Welshpool, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin and Montgomery.

Paid for by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Levelling Up), former Llanfair Caereinion High School head teacher Philip Jones has been tasked with advising and helping town councils, businesses, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups with the planning, delivery and monitoring of economic development projects.

It is one of five Powys town centre liaison officers (TCLOs) appointed as part of Powys County Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Team, and they were welcomed into their roles by Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, Cllr David Selby.

“They will be advising on the implementation of town plans and helping to identify projects and initiatives that can make a real difference to the communities they are supporting,” he said.

“They will also be liaising, as their job titles suggest, between town-based organisations and other departments within the county council and any consultants who are hired to draft, develop or review plans.

“The TCLOs will also offer advice on where support for projects can be accessed.”

Their roles have been funded by the UK Government up until the end of 2024, as part of its Levelling Up programme.

One of the sources of funding they can signpost organisations to is the Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant, funded by Welsh Government.

This can be used to cover the capital cost of creating more town centre homes, commercial property and shop frontage improvements, green and digital infrastructure, small scale public spaces and outdoor trading improvements, strategic property purchases, support for market traders, walkers and cyclists, pop-up projects, and providing more recreation facilities and toilets.

The Transforming Towns programme is providing £7 million for regeneration projects in Powys and Ceredigion over three years.

More information on Transforming Towns Placemaking Grants: https://www.growinpowys.com/transforming-towns

The TCLOs are:

Philip Jones – Welshpool, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin and Montgomery. Contact:regeneration@powys.gov.uk.

Bobby Gough – Newtown, Llanidloes and Machynlleth.

Richard Morgan – Llandrindod Wells, Knighton, Presteigne and Rhayader.

Rhys Howells – Ystradgynlais, Brecon, Builth Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells.

Ayden Davies – Crickhowell, Hay-on-Wye and Talgarth.

PICTURE CAPTION: Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, welcomes the five new town centre liaison officers, Bobby Gough, Philip Jones (left), Richard Morgan, Rhys Howells and Ayden Davies to their roles.