‘Make Wiggly Path something fantastic for Welshpool’

The wrangle over the future ownership of Welshpool’s Wiggly Path continues to divide the Town Council, but the right of way has fallen into a sorry state in the meantime.

Following the sale of the Ardwyn school site earlier this year to developers, the Wiggly Path, which is a popular link between the town and Red Bank, has been left to overgrow and is gradually becoming unusable.

Some councillors have called for the area to be adopted by the Town Council to become a site for biodiversity and well-being whilst maintaining a clear pathway, but questions over cost of upkeep has meant several councillors feel it should be left in the hands of Powys County Council, who currently own it.

But at the latest Strategy, Policy and Development Committee meeting, Cllr Richard Church, who is one of those that believes it should become a special place for the town, said: “We have an option to make something fantastic for the town. It offers fantastic views of the town and the only way to make this an asset for Welshpool is if the Town Council takes it on.”

He explained that the path only needs “half-a-metre” clearing each side to make it usable with the rest left to become a nature haven.

He warned that it would become impassable if left any longer due to the weeds encroaching the path and urged the council to come up with an urgent solution.

The Town Council has been offered first option on taking on the site from Powys, but after being told the paperwork was “still with the solicitor”, Cllr Billy Spencer replied: “I’m concerned that important things seem to be stuck with our solicitor.”

His concern was shared by Cllr David France, who added: “Can’t we get an update from the solicitor as losing it would be a disaster for Welshpool.”

Cllr Estelle Bleivas shared several councillors’ concerns about the cost of adopting the area, but Town Mayor, Cllr Phil Owen, said “it is a real asset for the town as it can be seen from everywhere”.

In a Facebook post earlier this week, Powys County Councillor, Graham Breeze, said he would be contacting the regional authority’s grounds team to ask for urgent action to be taken to clear the paths.

Councillors agreed unanimously to chase their solicitor for an update on the asset transfer proposal, and to invite the operations team to their next meeting on how much work would be involved, should the Town Council adopt it.

Back in 2017, a public demonstration (pictured) helped to stop the Wiggly Path from closing over school safeguarding concerns.