Town rallies as Powys confirms highways staff could relocate

Civic leaders in Llanfyllin are rallying round after Powys County Council confirmed that the town’s highways depot could close with staff moved to Welshpool.

Councillors met with county council’s CEO, Emma Palmer, to seek assurances about the future of the town’s highways depot which serves rural north Montgomeryshire, but despite assurances it won’t be closing in the short term, it’s long term future remains in doubt.

Following their meeting, we asked Powys County Council what the situation was and a spokesperson responded: “We are consulting with staff about relocating them from Llanfyllin depot to Welshpool depot.

“In terms of the future of the Llanfyllin depot, no decision will be made to close the depot.

“If, following the consultation, we decide to move staff to Welshpool, we will assess the impact on service provision and then make an informed decision on what to do with the site in the Spring/Summer of 2027.”

Councillors Gwynfor Thomas, Aled Davies and Peter Lewis issued the following remarks following their meeting saying that they were advised that the current business case does not identify Llanfyllin Highways Depot for closure. Instead, the proposal centres on the transfer of staff as part of a review of service delivery arrangements. The depot itself will continue to be retained and used by the council for now, with a range of options for its future use remaining under consideration.

Councillor Gwynfor Thomas said: “We welcomed the opportunity to discuss the proposals directly with the Chief Executive and to gain a clearer understanding of the position regarding Llanfyllin Depot. It is important for local residents and staff to understand that the current business case is not proposing the closure of the depot itself. The focus is on staffing arrangements, while the depot remains a valued asset that could support a number of options in the future.”

Councillor Aled Davies said: “Our discussions focused heavily on the financial case and the practical implications for service delivery, which simply hasn’t been good enough over the last two or three years.

“The Chief Executive was noncommittal about the future of Llanfyllin depot, saying that it was yet to be decided. However, I struggle to see how a locked yard with no staff can be described as a Highways Depot. Going forward, the challenge will be to identify solutions that are financially deliverable and deliver much better value for money while ensuring that services to local communities are enhanced rather than diminished, even in the very north of Powys.”

Councillor Peter Lewis added: “Llanfyllin Depot occupies an important strategic location and remains an asset for the council. The clear message from the meeting was that future decisions should balance financial responsibility with the need to deliver effective and efficient services for Llanfyllin residents and across the surrounding area in the Far North of Powys.”

The councillors said they welcomed the constructive dialogue with the Chief Executive and council officers and stressed the importance of continuing engagement with staff throughout the consultation process.

While discussions on future operational arrangements continue, they said it was recognised by all parties that the depot remains part of the council’s estate and that any future proposals for its use should demonstrate both financial viability and improved service delivery outcomes for the communities of Montgomeryshire and the wider area.