Welcome investment but a missed opportunity for the Town

Llandrindod Wells Lib Dem Councillors Jake Berriman and Pete Roberts have welcomed the news that the Auto Palace is to benefit from Levelling-up funding but described the overall process and narrow scope of the bid as another missed opportunity to transform the town.

"Of course, it is excellent news that an iconic building with so much history attached to it is now guaranteed renovation, but there was so much more that could have been done in a comprehensive Llandrindod regeneration bid," commented Cllr Jake Berriman (Llandrindod North).

"The Auto Palace could have been the crown jewels in a regeneration arc around the town centre from a skate park and offroad bike track by the Lake, though the Pavillion, the Rock Park Centre and park grounds with its sports facilities to the Albert Hall. We could have had a comprehensive business and recreation-focussed regeneration plan that would make the area attractive to the business owners and health professionals we need to guarantee the town a prosperous future" added Cllr Pete Roberts, (Llandrindod South).

"Instead the cloak of secrecy that permeates parts of the council administration froze local knowledge out of the process and we end up with another missed opportunity."

Both Councillors are agreed that the council must make significant changes before preparing any bids for submission in the next round of bidding for the fund.

"We have already identified over £2m of potential projects within the town in the past 24 hours and know there are other initiatives out there that could potentially meet the criteria but we won't now achieve this alone". Commented Cllr Jake Berriman

"Pete and I are now committed to working with others to try to develop the basis for a future community-focussed bid. We would also encourage other local County Councillors to identify projects in their area so for the next round there is a Central Powys Bid that will regenerate the county between the Eppynt/Begwyns watershed and the Montgomeryshire border".

Notes To Editor

• Llandrindod Wells Town Council are leading a group aiming to raise up to £600k for a Skate Park designed to national standard on land leased to them by Powys CC adjoining the Auto Palace car park.
• Following a full structural survey works estimated at a conservative £1.5m are required to remedy 20 years of neglect by the Powys County Council of the Pavillion site.
• The Rock Park Centre has been consistently passed over for reservation bids.
• The Albert Hall is undertaking their own renovation programme.