Newtown shopping street 'could be pedestrianised'

Newtown's main shopping street could be pedestrianised under radical plans for the future of the town.

The plan to pedestrianise Broad Street is one of a number of ideas being put forward by the I Love Newtown lobbying group to help attract investors and potential developers to the town.

Residents are being urged to have their say on the ideas, which could be fed into Powys County Council's Local Development Plan mapping out future plans until 2026.

A public meeting will be held on June 29 at the Monty Club at 7pm to discuss the ideas and encourage townsfolk to put forward views of their own.

Doug Hughes, of Hughes Architects, said without a town plan it would be difficult for any future development to take place.

He said: "Newtown is central Wales' primary town, we have got a lot of history, heritage and community spirit and the town deserves more.

"We know pedestrianising Broad Street would be an issue but we want people to debate what they want for the future of the town.

"These are just ideas and we need feedback from the people of the town to know what they would like us to push on with. The idea is to influence Powys County Council to take on board what the people of Newtown want."