Celtica site's new future

A former tourist attraction in a Mid Wales town which has been left empty since its closure two years ago is likely to be taken over by the town council in April.The old Celtica building in Machynlleth could be given a new lease of life hosting conferences, providing office accommodation for local firms and eventually the site for the town's community centre.

Councillor Bob Dunn, the mayor of Machynlleth, said the council planned to take over the listed building based in the Plas grounds on April 1 from Powys County Council.

It follows a long campaign by councillors to save the building from being sold to someone outside the area.

Councillor Dunn said: "Since Celtica was closed a few years ago, we have been trying to secure a safe future for the building.

"We have been in talks with Powys County Council for the last 12 months and we have now come to a point where we can announce that we hope to take it over on April 1."

He said he hoped the Grade II-listed Plas building would be used to hold public conferences, house the town council offices and provide much-needed office space for businesses from Machynlleth and surrounding areas.

"We are hoping the building can be used for things that will help benefit the local community," he said.

"The office space which will be made available might also attract new businesses into the town, which will be of great benefit to us all."

He said the long-term aim would be to re-house the community centre there.

Powys County Council took a decision to close Celtica in March 2006 as a lack of visitors had caused severe financial losses.

Councillor Dunn said he hoped the town council would be able to bring the building back to life.

He said: "It's going to be a lot of hard work but we are all looking forward to the challenge. We didn't want the building to be sold to someone out out of the town because they wouldn't have had Machynlleth's best interests at heart, so us taking it over is the best thing all round."

Councillor Dunn said before the takeover could officially go-ahead Powys County Council would need to discuss it at a future board meeting.