Where was everyone?

Civic leaders say they are baffled as to why only 30 people showed up to a vital public meeting that could dictate Newtown’s development over the next 15 years.

 

The meeting was held on Tuesday night to discuss the Local Development Plan (LDP), a document to be compiled by Powys County Council that will dictate local planning policy until 2027.

 

The LDP will decide what will and won’t be developed during that time and more importantly where, and some preliminary research has shown that thousands of new houses could be earmarked for the Newtown area.

 

And while hundreds of people 14 miles up the road have bombarded Welshpool Town Council with suggestions, objections and comments during their public consultation period, Newtown’s residents seem far more apathetic.

 

“It was very disappointing,” said Town Mayor Joy Jones who chaired the meeting. “I thought that a meeting of this importance would have attracted a lot of people but there were no more than 30 there. This is a very important time for Newtown. There seems to be so much going on that people are unhappy with so perhaps this one got lost in all of the cuts issues. But people do genuinely have the opportunity to dictate what will happen in Newtown over the next 15 years by having their say now.”

 

It has been a tough year for Newtown so far which could become one of Britain’s most affected towns due to the proposed drastic cuts across the board. Already blighted by a chronic road problem, residents have been fighting cuts to health, education and now its fire service in recent weeks.

 

But despite the turnout, Cllr Jones said it was a case of quality as opposed to quantity with some excellent input from those that attended.

 

“There were a lot of very constructive and good ideas that will be put forward for consideration on the plan,” she said. “We have a wonderful town which we can develop together. It is not too late and I urge people to let their local councillor know their feelings and opinions for consideration.”