Park law may halt store plans

A 60-year-old by-law governing a Newtown park could halt controversial plans to build a supermarket on the site of the town’s bowling club.

Newtown Bowling Club wants to build a new clubhouse and bowling green on part of Newtown’s Town Park, leaving its current site in Back Lane available for a proposed medium-sized supermarket.

But the scheme has sparked more than 50 objections from residents and groups, including the town’s Civic Society, who want the park to remain public open space.

Steven Geary, Newtown Town Council clerk, told a meeting of the council yesterday that legal advice had been obtained after the discovery of a by-law, dating from 1947, which governed the use of the Town Park.

He said he had been advised that under the law the owners of the park, Powys County Council, would have to show it was no longer required and not used as public open space.

“I would say it would be very difficult for the council to say the land is not used as public open space because it is used on a daily basis,” he said.

Mr Geary said the county council could decide the proposed use was more appropriate, but would then have to advertise its intentions and ask for objections.

Town councillors agreed Mr Geary would write to the county council giving information about the by-law.