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Thursday
13  February

“Welshpool has a big heart”

 
13/02/2025 @ 09:44

 

A Welshpool councillor has intervened to ensure that a popular annual family event will remain free-of-charge after a ticket price was introduced for 2025 following a large amount of no-shows last year.

The Halloween Parade and Disco organised by Welshpool Town Council has become a huge success, with the free tickets quickly snapped up over the past two years.

But when around 25 no-shows were reported from the last event, councillors decided in November to introduce a £2 ticket price to deter time wasters.

However, the issue was raised again at last night’s Events and Tourism Committee meeting by newly re-elected councillor, Julie Arnold, who said: “There shouldn’t be a charge. Welshpool has a big heart and I know businesses would be happy to support.”

This drew an immediate response from Cllr Sally Fitzgerald, who runs a successful hair salon in the town centre.

“It’s for the kids of this town and should be free, so I am happy to sponsor it,” she said. “It is about giving back. Welshpool has been good to me so it’s the least I can do. Hopefully this will encourage other businesses to support events as well.”

Cllr Fitzgerald walked out on the November meeting when the ticket price was introduced, and she apologised last night for her reaction but said “it had upset me”.

For this year’s event, tickets will be available to pick up at the Tourist Information Centre, rather than booked online or by phone.