Answers demanded amidst claim that library promise has been broken
The library closed before Covid despite widespread objection from the town that even included a march by hundreds of people calling for it to remain open.
The pleas were ignored by the County Council who went ahead and converted the building into an office for staff moved from the former Neuadd Maldwyn headquarters that was handed over for development into an assisted living facility that opened last month.
The library was squeezed in with the Powysland Museum as a shared facility which is now called Y Lanfa, next to the canal.
The whole experience left a bad taste in the mouth for Welshpool, and old wounds were reopened this week with Cllr Phil Pritchard raising concerns.
He was responding to a briefing from Welshpool county councillor, Graham Breeze, during the full council meeting.
“Some time ago the county council said they were closing the library and the schools and after they sold Neuadd Maldwyn, we would have them as drop-in centres for the people of Welshpool,” said Cllr Pritchard.
“There’s that many people in this town but no-one can get hold of anybody. The doors are locked on the library and if you knock the door they tell you to go away (and say) ‘sorry visitors aren’t accepted in this building’.
“In that deal (to close the library), it was supposed to be having drop-in centres and their words were there would be two people from every department in that building so that whoever comes in on anything, that department will be represented there.
“That was their words and, I am sorry, people in this town cannot get hold of anybody, and I mean anybody, attached to the county council. It isn’t good enough.”
We have dropped Powys County Council a line for a response to the claims and will publish as soon as it becomes available.
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