Roads Agency shuns Welshpool meeting over Cross lights

A Welshpool town councillor has called the temporary lights situation on the Cross “absolutely disgraceful” after it was revealed that the agency responsible has shunned an invitation to meet with councillors to explain the mess.

The lights were knocked out by an electrical explosion six months ago and the somewhat chaotic replacement forces traffic on Church Street into a single file bottleneck.

It has been brought up every month since at the full Town Council meetings, with the Trunk Road Agency explaining that they are trying to source the relevant part to complete the repairs.

But last month the frustrated Town Council wrote to them, inviting someone to speak with the council and explain the hold-up in person.

But they declined the invitation, only on the day of the latest Full Council meeting, adding to the frustration felt by councillors.

“I am one of the many people in the town who are disgusted that The Cross is still on temporary lights after several months,” said Cllr Phil Pritchard, who also fired sharp criticism at Powys County Council.

“Don’t tell me it is because they can’t find the part because they would have in Llandrindod or Rhayader.

“The county council has taken our buildings away, the staff away and now the traffic lights. It’s absolutely disgraceful.”

Cllr Richard Church, who serves on both councils, explained it wasn’t the remit of Powys and directed responsibility to the Trunk Roads Agency, adding that he felt the length of time to do the work was “unsatisfactory”.

Town Clerk, Richard Williams, then updated councillors to say that in declining the invitation to the meeting, the Agency had informed him that the permanent lights should be operational by the end of July. Previously they had committed to June.